Can a Water Softener Turn Water Yellow?

Do you find it difficult to clean utensils or clothes? It all might be because of hard water. Normally, the water that we use in our home is hard containing more minerals like magnesium and calcium compared to ordinary water. These positively charged ions prevent the easy dissolving of other ions, a reason you would want to use a water softener.

Do Water Softeners Turn Water Yellow?

If you are experiencing yellow water like seawater, do not worry. You can take care of it easily.

Now that the hardness is removed with a good water softener, all seems to be set. However, on numerous occasions, people complain of the water being yellow after the softening process. For all those with such a problem, do not fret.

So, can a water softener turn water yellow?

This discoloration is due to the trace amounts of iron, manganese and naturally occurring organic materials. It does not constitute a health risk.

In some waters, dissolved iron components are mainly the cause of the yellowing as they simply pass through the softener and these can cause fouling of the softener bed. In such cases, softeners are advised not to be used.

Also, you might have yellow water because of a faulty solenoid. Here are a few of the things that you can do to ensure that the water does not turn yellow.

1. Check if the water is flowing smoothly and there are no disruptions. Sometimes, the filters that you use may not allow the water to flow freely.
2. Do not use any additives to the softener like a Redout salt. Adding a Redout salt, for instance, oxidizes the copper portion of KDF and give the yellow tint to the water.
3. Another common cause of the water going yellow is if you get a lot of iron through the filter into the softener.

How Do You Deal With It?

You can run all your taps to ensure that you clear up any iron or clay remaining in the pipes before you use a water softener. Also, another good way to reduce the yellowing of water is to check it for bacteria or minerals like magnesium that can turn the water yellow.

• You may want to clean your water softener and see the results as well.
• Chlorine injection can help you reduce the iron in the water, and improve the water quality overall. However, if you are using this, do remember that you will need to use a chlorine remover after the rust filter and before the softener to avoid any damage to the softener.
• You can also apply a hydrogen peroxide injection in the mixing tank or even install an aeration tank. This will help you aerate the water and oxidize it before it hits the rust filter.

Sometimes, though, the iron will precipitate, and it will provide a sticky material and can be difficult to remove from the beads. Therefore, it is clear that water softening removes iron only when it is in very small quantities. Iron filters are advised to be used before putting the water through the softening process.

Additional Resources

• Can I Put Bleach in My Water Softener?
• Can Water Softeners Cause Skin Problems?