How do you know if your home’s water is safe to drink? Maybe it has an odd taste or an odd smell. Whatever the issue, there are tests you can perform to find out how clean your water is and steps you can take to make it more drinkable. Here’s how to test for clean water.
Testing to See If You Have Clean Water
The simplest method is a water-testing kit, available at most home improvement stores. They test your water’s pH balance, how hard it is, plus levels of lead, copper, chlorine, pesticides, and other harmful substances, and then measure whether these levels are safe for drinking.
If you’re really concerned, you can take things a step further and send it to a lab for more thorough analysis. Call your county health department. If they don’t have the facilities for water testing, they can at least recommend a state-certified lab that’s equipped for the job. The test may take a few days, but at the end, you’ll have a comprehensive overview of what’s in your water and how safe it is for your family.
Cleaning Your Water
If your water does contain contaminants, there are several things you can do to clean it. If the problem is just a bad taste, look into a water filter. There are pitchers that will filter your water, making it cleaner and better-tasting. There are also whole-house water filtration systems you can install in your plumbing to ensure clean water on demand. Or try a UV water cleaner. Exposing the water to ultraviolet light kills bacteria and harmful microbes.
For more extreme situations, you’ll want to boil your water. If it comes out of your tap cloudy, run it through cheesecloth or a coffee filter to filter out the sediment, then boil the water on the stove to kill all other contaminants. If the problem continues, call a plumber. They can help you determine the cause of your contaminated water and recommend a more permanent solution.
For help testing for clean water in your home, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We keep Indianapolis homes comfortable, safe, and efficient.
