What Causes Blue Toilet Water?

Are you experiencing a slight tinge of blue water after you flush the toilet? Don’t panic! You’re not alone! Blue toilet water is a common problem that many homeowners face from time to time. Fortunately, you can do a few things to eliminate blue toilet water quickly and easily.

In this post, we’ll discuss the causes of blue toilet water and how to quickly and easily get rid of it. We’ll also discuss ways you can help prevent blue toilet water from happening in the first place.

What Causes Blue Toilet Water?

It’s not unusual for water to appear blue when you flush it, but some things can cause your toilet water to actually turn blue. Here are some reasons:

1. Rust inside the Copper Pipes

Some toilet models are made with copper plumbing systems. Such plumbing systems work well when the pipes are in good condition. But your toilet water will get stained blue when the copper pipes begin to corrode. That indicates that your plumbing lines are old and worn out. When copper pipes in your toilet begin to rust, you will soon have water that is dirty and looks weird. The reason is that rust occurs inside the copper pipes after exposure to chlorine and oxygen from the tap water over time.

2. There Is a High Copper Level In Your Residence

Some towns have very high copper amounts, which can affect the plumbing system. So, when you start noticing that a blue liquid appears in your toilet frequently, ask others in your neighborhood if they also experience this phenomenon. If they do, the soil is likely rich in copper.

3. It Could Be The Blue Tablets You’re Using In Your Toilet

Another reason could be the blue cleaning tablets you’re using. They contain dye that gives your toilet water a blue hue. It’s natural to think that water will look strange if you put some in your toilet. Blue cleaning tablets are controversial — they really clean well, but there are several disadvantages to using blue cleaning tablets. And we’ll discuss it in one of the sections below!

What Is the Blue Ring in Your Toilet Bowl?

Blue rings in your toilet water signal that something is oxidizing the copper pipes. It happens when copper pipes react with oxygen in the water. But it’s critical to note that copper stains in toilet bowls don’t have an impact on your toilet water. Blue rings are formed near the bottom of a toilet bowl because of poor water pressure – you can see them when you turn on the water at a higher level. It’s not dangerous, but it appears strange, so some people typically try to remove the blue ring by using chemicals.

It may take a little effort to scrub the stains off the toilet bowl with a brush or a pumice stone, but that may not completely remove them. If the pipes in your house are corroded, a blue ring will keep appearing in your toilet bowl.

Is Blue Toilet Water Harmful?

Copper in your plumbing system can cause problems, but blue toilet water isn’t dangerous. However, it can end up being disastrous for you and your plumbing system. Prolonged exposure to copper-rich water may cause certain health conditions, like stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Although you won’t experience any side effects if you touch the blue toilet water, you may experience irritation on your skin. If you accidentally splash blue water in your eyes, it can cause severe irritation.

Damages To Your Bathroom Piping

Copper-rich water may damage your house’s faucets, drains, pipes, and other plumbing. It may seem harmless, but if you see blue rings around your toilet bowl, it is a warning sign that something is wrong with your plumbing system.

If the corrosion continues, you might experience any of the following issues:

• Leakage can occur at your toilet’s base
• Your bathroom floor may get flooded
• Dampness might occur in the toilet walls
• The toilet bowl can start to lose water
• Lastly, your toilet might not last long as anticipated

More significantly, you must be keen on those metal items that are exposed in your bathroom. Corrosion may lead to leakages that could later cause electrical issues in your house.

How to Prevent Blue Toilet Water

Sometimes it’s hard to prevent blue water from entering your toilet. But there are some things you can do to eliminate the bluish rings you see when you flush the toilet.

1. Replace the Pipes in Your House

To stop water from becoming blue, you must address the root cause — corroded pipes in your pipes. There is no way around this, as you will have to replace all the copper pipes and other plumbing elements with plastic ones. If your pipes and fittings are old and have not been inspected in at least 10 years, you may need to change them. However, it is not a typical DIY project to replace the pipes in your bathroom. Always hire a plumber!

You’ll need to get a licensed plumber’s advice to determine the best option for your situation. It’s easy to install durable, high-quality plastic pipes that demand less maintenance than copper ones. And it’s pretty expensive to replace copper pipes and fittings. But don’t fret! Here is a second option for you.

2. Try Using the Water Filter

You can’t stop the old pipes’ rust, but you can treat your water condition using filters. Water filters can remove copper traces from the water before it leaves your toilet tank. This is important because it will help you to eliminate the bluish color.

You can use different types of water filters, such as chlorine, activated carbon, fluoride, and ion exchange filters; these filters will help you remove the copper. Furthermore, they can also prevent other harmful elements from getting into your toilet water.

FAQs

Can my toilet water contain other colors?

Toilet water might also look yellow or green. It all depends on the chemical that is discoloring the water. Below are the most common colors that toilet water may look like:

• Dark and Black Shades – You probably have mildew in your home if you see black or dark stains in the toilet bowl. Black mold thrives in dark, damp, and very moist environments. It’s prevalent to see black stains in toilet bowls if you have a lot of hard water or damp carpeting. It is entirely normal to smell foul when you go to the bathroom. However, you can quickly clean it using the right cleaning agents.
• Orange or Brown – Some water pipes are made from iron — which means that some of the parts may be rusting or corroded. The pipes are probably old and rusty if you notice orange or brown colors in your toilet bowl. This affects the way the water looks and makes it appear dirty.
• Yellow stains – Sometimes, you will find disgusting yellow stains in your toilet bowl. The issue may be caused by urine soaking into the toilet bowl and not sinking into the drain.

Are toilet cleaning tablets good?

Blue toilet cleaners are causing quite a stir. It leaves a lot of people dazed. Blue toilet cleaners are great at keeping your toilet clean but can damage your bowl. Toilet tablets promise to keep your toilet fresh for a long time by establishing a barrier between the water and the metal components in your bathroom.

What a tablet does is that it creates an invisible barrier on the inner part of your toilet bowl that will prevent stains from forming. However, whenever you flush a tablet, the water in your toilet changes and turns blue. Toilet tablets also have a lot of other benefits. Here are some of the most important benefits of using toilet tablets:

• It’s easy to use and store blue cleaning tablets.
• Cleaning tablets act as a shield to protect your bathroom from dirt. They protect the surface from damage for a long time.
• Tablets make cleaning the toilet tank easier in case of minerals buildup.
• Blue cleaning tablets have a sweet smell that soothes the senses.
• It keeps your toilet always clean, looking nice while doing it.

Looking on the negative side, here are some cons to using the toilet cleaning tablet:

• Buying cleaning tablets regularly can be expensive.
• They deteriorate toilet parts. For instance, the flush system.
• Cleaning tablets can cause holes and cracks in pipes and tanks.
• Using chlorine-containing tablets to clean your toilets can damage your septic system. Avoid using cleaning tablets if your toilet does not connect to the septic tank.
• It can cause serious harm to pets if they try to drink water from your toilet bowl.

It’s best to use cleaning tablets moderately – just enough to keep the system running smoothly. Maybe you can use the tablets once or twice a week to have a clean toilet. It won’t compromise the system’s functioning if you do that each week.

Key Takeaways

Blue water in your toilet generally means that your copper pipes are corroded. You should call a plumber to get more advice. But first, if you wish to prevent blue toilet water from being persistent, try the outlined tips and see what happens. Also, remember that toilet cleaning tablets may damage your plumbing system. Avoid using cleaning tablets if you can since they harm the environment, your pets, and your plumbing system.