Tip #1: Develop an Understanding

Before you contract a contractor, do your research. Simply put: become a bit of an expert on your project. Why? Well, doing so will make you feel comfortable enough to speak intelligently about it with potential contractors, not to mention, allow you to spot red flags and avoid uncomfortable situations, should they arise.

Tip #2: Ask Around

Rather than doing a quick Google search and selecting the first contractor listed, ask your friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers for a personal referral. If your inner-circle comes up short, ask local business owners, property managers, or real estate agents for suggestions. With those in hand, then you can take your search online.

Tip #3: Always Ask for an Itemized Bid

So, you’ve met with a contractor and began discussing the needs of your project, right? Great! If a pricing and completion estimate was not provided on the spot (fairly common practice), it is likely that you’ll be receiving one in 24-48 hours. Before an estimate is provided, make it clear that you require an itemized bid. All reputable contractors should happily comply with this request, and quite frankly, probably already provide it! Wondering what’s on an itemized bid? Well, typically, itemized bids list out all aspects and inclusions of your project, such as plumbing, painting, and carpentry tasks. Be wary of contractors who are unwilling to provide you with a detailed breakdown of their bid.

Tip #4: Obtain Multiple Bids

Never settle on the first contractor you meet, even if they knock your socks off! Take a few days, weeks, or even months, to shop around. A good rule of thumb is to obtain at least three different bids from contractors that you trust and feel comfortable with; this gives you a nice pool of options. When choosing between your top three contractors, consider more than just price; take these factors into consideration as well:

• Reputation
• Quality of Proposed Project Materials
• Warranties or Guarantees
• Proposed Completion Time
• Experience
• Professionalism

Tip #5: Do a Background Check

Think you’ve made your choice? Great! Now it’s time to perform a routine background check. Firstly, contact your desired contractor to let them know that you’d like them to provide you with references. Again, always be wary of any contractor who refuses to provide you with references. Once you’ve been provided with references, contact them – ask any question you can think of to ease your mind about allowing the contractor to take on your project. As an added safety measure, we suggest checking with the Better Business Bureau to see how the contractor ranks.

Tip #6: Make Sure the Contractor is Licensed & Insured

You wouldn’t trust an unlicensed and uninsured taxi driver to chauffeur you all over town, would you? Of course not – which is why you should never allow an unlicensed and uninsured contractor to complete your project. When it comes to contractor licenses, simply make sure they are licensed to work in the city and state the project is being performed in. If you feel uncomfortable in assessing their credentials, rely on The Contractor’s License Reference Site for help in determining what licenses your project requires and if your desired contractor possesses them.  For added safety and security, always ask for a copy of their insurance information to make sure they are, at least, covered for general liability and worker’s compensation.

Tip #7: Never Obtain Permits for Your Contractor

If you think it seems fishy that a contractor would ask you to obtain a permit for your project, it is! It is, and always will be, the responsibility of the contractor to obtain any and all permits needed to plan, design, and complete your project. Making the mistake of obtaining the project permit for a contractor makes you the target if anything goes wrong.

Tip #8: Determine an Agreeable Payment Plan

During the interview process (around step three), ask your contractor how they handle payment. For safety and security purposes, payments should always be made to a company (never to an individual) via check (never cash). While most contractors require a reasonable initial deposit of 10-15%, you should never be held responsible for the cost of raw materials. Due to the high-cost of home improvements and maintenance projects, it is perfectly normal to make payments in monthly installments.

Tip #9: Ensure Contractor Obtains Lien Waivers

Lien waivers serve as proof that your contractor has paid for the labor and materials required by your project(s), and not on other expenses. To avoid being liable for payment, never compensate a contractor without first seeing, and assessing, lien waivers that equal to the entire amount due. Keep in mind: your contractor should provide you with a lien waiver for his labor and materials as well.

Tip #10: Strive for a Comprehensive Contract

This may seem like common sense, but we can’t stress it enough: never hire a contractor without a signed contract in place first. Remember, if it isn’t in the contract, a contractor isn’t legally obligated to comply. A signed contract should include a variety of items, such as:

• Agreed Payment Schedule
• Proof of License & Insurance
• Proof of All Required Permits
• Dedicated Start & End Date
• Lien Release Requirements
• Detailed List of All Materials Being Used
• Warranty Information

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Yard Grading: A Step-by-Step Guide

Grading your yard is a big job that can be quite labor intensive. If, after reading the steps, you don’t feel comfortable in taking on the job, contact a professional landscaping company to assist.

Step #1: Mark Utility Lines

Before beginning the grading process, take the time to mark any utility lines in your yard with brightly colored flags or steaks. Utility lines include water, gas, telephone, and electric lines. Marking these lines will ensure that they won’t rupture during the digging process.

Step #2: Obtain a Digging Permit

Some cities and counties require homeowners to obtain a digging permit before grading their yard. Check with your city council to see if a permit is needed for your yard grading project. Better safe than sorry!

Step #3: Identify Drainage Area

After you’ve marked off the utility lines and obtained a digging permit (if necessary), the next step is to identify the nearest drainage area that you’d like the water to flow to. If you’re unable to utilize a public drain, you’ll need to divert the runoff to the edge of your property.

Step #4: Start Digging!

Dig up approximately eight inches of topsoil from all areas around your foundation. Set the freshly dug soil to the side – you’ll need it later!

Step #5: Level Things Out

To create a level surface, fill in uneven areas with the soil, and remove (dig up) soil from other areas. When removing excess soil from bumpy or uneven areas, be sure to press the remaining dirt down to smooth out the surface. When leveling out areas of depression, dig around the perimeter (approximately five-inches), then add in the excess soil, pressing it down to create a smooth and even surface.

Step #6: Mark the Area

Firstly, you’ll need to paint (spray paint works great) two stakes to use as markers. Then, drive one stake 12-inches away from your home’s foundation and the other 12-inches away from the drainage area. Once the stakes are firmly driven into the ground, connect the two with a colored string to determine the grade of your lawn.

Step #7: Form a Downward Slope

This is where the grading begins, as you’ll be moving the arranging the remaining soil on your lawn to form a downward slope. As you’re moving and arranging, periodically check to make sure the slope is accurate. To do this, simply place a 2×4 board on the slope, away from your home. Keep in mind, to achieve effective drainage, you’ll need a 2% grade at minimum. Here’s how you’ll determine the percentage of your grade:

1. Place a leveling bar atop the 2×4 board.
2. Raise/lower the 2×4 board until the leveler indicates the board is level.
3. If the ground measures two-inches below the 2×4 board, you’ve got a 2% grade!

Step #8: Rake & Till

Using a rake, smooth the grade so that the soil lies evenly, then use a tiller to mix the topsoil you set aside in step 4 with the subsoil.

Step #9: Plant Grass or Lay Sod

Before planning grass or laying sod, allow the soil to settle for a few days. Keep in mind, if you’ve achieved a 2% slope, water will be absorbed by the soil, but the excess will drain away as intended.

Water damage can be a very stressful situation to deal with, both personally and financially. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to water damage when you can easily prevent such a thing from happening by following these steps proper landscaping techniques, and this helpful guide on how to properly grade your yard.

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Roofing Systems

A couple times a year, and after every severe storm or weather incident, set aside time to inspect your roof. As you’re inspecting, be sure to thoroughly check all areas around vents, skylights, and chimneys for leaks.

Attics

If no ridge vent is present, keep gable vents open all year to ensure proper ventilation. If your attic is easily accessible, get inside to check for leaks.

Gutters & Downspouts

Trees, storms, and debris constantly cause gutters to fill up and clog. We can’t stress enough just how important it is to regularly clean your gutters and maintain your downspouts.

Fireplaces

During the Fall months, clean your fireplace of ashes and check the chimney for loose or missing mortar. When needed, reach out to a professional chimney cleaning company to thoroughly clean your chimney. During the Spring months, improve ventilation by leaving the damper open; this is especially important if your home is not air-conditioned.

Filters

Keep in mind, filters should be cleaned, or replaced, once a month to increase efficiency and prevent fires. Be sure to check, and clean, dryer vents, air conditioners, stove hoods, and room fans. While you’re at it, take a look at the heating and cooling vents in every room in your home; make sure they’re clean, and not being blocked by furniture.

Safety Equipment

Possibly the most important aspect of home ownership is ensuring that your smoke and CO detectors are in working order. Doing so, along with keeping multiple fire extinguishers in your home, could save your life.

Air Conditioners

During colder months, remove window units to avoid cold air intrusion. If your air conditioner is not a window unit, and is free-standing outdoors, cover it with a weatherproof blanket during cold months.

Refrigerators

To prevent food from spoiling and high energy bills, ensure your refrigerator door(s) seal tightly. To test the seal, close the door over a piece of paper. If you can easily remove the paper with the door closed, the seal is not tight enough, or you may need to adjust the latch. Additionally, check your refrigerator for leaks on a regular basis.

Faucets

Check for leaky faucets in kitchens, bathrooms, and any other area of your home. If leaks are present, replace the washers. When it comes to plumbing, it’s always helpful to know the basics.

Windows & Doors

This may seem like a no-brainer, but drafty doors and windows should be tightly sealed. Consider this: if every door and window in your home allowed a slight draft, that equates to leaving one window wide open!

Storm Windows & Screens

Before Winter strikes, remove screens and replace with storm windows. Once Spring makes its appearance, remove, clean, and properly store the storm windows and re-install screens.

Siding & Paint

Inspect siding and paint for cracks and holes. If necessary, replace caulk where it has come loose or peeled away; use a basic carpenter knife to remove old caulking.

Basement

Keeping your basement a flood-free zone is a must! Inspect the basement walls and flooring for dampness during and after a major storm.

Sump Pump

If you don’t have a sump pump, get one! These little devices work wonders during severe rain and thunderstorms. If you do have a sump pump, read our post about proper sump pump maintenance; you’ll thank us the next time a storm hits!

Hot Water Heater

Once a year, typically during the Fall months, drain your hot water heater to remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.

Hopefully this handy home maintenance checklist will help you maintain and take care of your home for years to come. If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns regarding home maintenance, do not hesitate to contact Woodard at (314) 961-9102.

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A clean, dry home is a happy home.

Mold Prevention Tip #1: Know Your Home

Check all of the areas that are especially prone to moisture (bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, basement, etc.) Doing a thorough audit of areas of potential issue will put you ahead of the game in terms of mold prevention.

Mold Prevention Tip #2: Dry the Wetness

Mold really only needs one thing to grow—moisture. If you’ve got a leaky basement or pipe, even a spill on the carpet, make sure to thoroughly dry this area immediately. Any materials that are completely soaked and are beyond drying thoroughly need to be discarded. This includes carpet, carpet padding, furniture, pillows and bedding.

Mold Prevention Tip #3: Think Small

Consider everyday occurrences of moisture in your home and do your best to keep them from permeating walls, carpet and furniture. Allow wet towels to dry before tossing them in the clothes hamper. Don’t leave wet clothes in the washing machine. Even after a few hours, that musty smell starts to set in…bad news. If you do pull your wet clothes out and they smell less than meadow fresh, toss them back in for another round of washing. Wipe down your shower doors and floor after a shower (will save you time scrubbing soap scum too, bonus!)

Mold Prevention Tip #4: Use Proper Ventilation

Always use the ventilation fans (or open windows) when showering or even cooking. You’d be really surprised how much moisture is released into your home from simply boiling a pot of water for pasta. Make sure that your clothes dryer vent is directed outdoors, rather than back into your home or into your attic. (Sure, it may provide some extra fresh toastiness in the winter, but the moisture factor isn’t worth it.) According to the EPA, air is able to hold less moisture as temperatures drop. In especially humid weather, utilize your AC and dehumidifiers to moderate the moisture levels in your home. In late Spring or early Summer, it may not yet be hot outside and it’s tempting to keep those windows open. Do be careful of the potential threat of moisture making its way into your home. Even if it’s not hot yet, close up your home for a couple hours at least every few days to run your AC or fan and take some of the moisture out of the air.

Mold Prevention Tip #5: Keep Water Out of Your Home

Use proper landscaping techniques as a means of waterproofing your home. Your landscaping should slope sufficiently away from your home, at the foundation to ensure proper water runoff. If you don’t have adequate slope, water can pool at your foundation and make its way into your basement or crawl space under your home. You can check to make sure your land is graded properly or contact a professional landscaper. Another moisture issue that starts on the outside of your home lies in your gutters. Check to make sure your gutters are clean and free of cracks at least twice annually and repair as necessary.

Mold Prevention Tip #6: Incorporate Mold-Resistant Products into Your Home

If you’re replacing drywall, utilize a mold-resistant drywall which is actually paperless. It’s covered in a layer of fiberglass which makes it very secure against water absorption. Use of this product will serve you especially well in common areas of moisture in your home. If you’re building a home from scratch, definitely consider mold-resistant materials in key rooms of your home, if not the entire structure.

Mold Prevention Tip #7: Install a Moisture Meter

The EPA recommends installing an indoor humidity gauge and keeping levels between 30-60%. This gauge can be found at most hardware stores and is easy to install.

Preventing the growth of mold in your home isn’t difficult; it just requires diligence on your part as a homeowner. Schedule these checks twice a year to keep your home dry and happy.

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What Difference Does Landscaping Make?

Let’s put it this way: when severe storms and rainfall strikes, all that precipitation soaks into the ground until it reaches an absorption limit. Think of your yard like a sponge: sponges can only hold a certain amount of water until the water begins to leak out. The same thought process applies with landscaping; once the absorption limit has been reached, precipitation begins to pool up, and eventually, flow downward. Anything located in that downward direction will quickly become a precipitation magnet. For this reason, you must alter your landscaping accordingly.

Tip #1: Check the Slope of Your Landscaping

While most homes are constructed with drainage and water flow in mind, lots settle overtime, causing the original construction to fade. Every season, be sure to take a close look at your landscaping to ensure that it slopes away from your home, rather than towards it. While you’re at it, check to make sure all drainage ditches, vents, and pipes are clear and free of obstructions.

Tip #2: Gutter & Downspout Maintenance

You’ve heard us say it before, but we’re going to say it again: do not neglect your gutters and downspouts! We know it’s not the most enjoyable household task, but it’s essential, and when done regularly, is quick and painless. If you’re clueless about downspout maintenance or how to properly clean your gutters, you’re not alone; click the links for a crash course!

Tip #3: Shrub & Tree Trimming

In addition to causing an eyesore, overgrown trees and shrubs that grow against your home are a leading cause of water damage. Trim them regularly to avoid interior leaks, and pay extra attention to excess leaves and branches that make their way into gutters and downspouts.

Tip #4: Driveway & Patio Drainage

Unlike soil and grass, concrete and pavement do not have the ability to absorb water on their own. With that being said, standing water is often found on driveways and patios that slope towards a home. To avoid this potentially costly, and damaging, problem consider installing channel drains in these areas. Similar to French drains, which are installed directly into yards, channel drains are installed directly into concrete, and provide access to vents that easily catch water.

Tip #5: Grading – Is it Necessary?

If you’ve taken every step to waterproof your landscaping, it may be necessary to grade your yard. While grading your yard could be a task you take on yourself, we recommend hiring a professional, unless, of course, you are highly-confident in your landscaping skills. For the do-it-yourselfers, we’ve created an excellent step-by-step guide for grading your yard; click the link to read more!

When to Call a Professional

Even after enhancing your landscaping, maintaining your sump pump, and cleaning your gutters, water damage always a possibility. If you find yourself faced with an intense water damage situation, act fast and call a professional restoration team immediately. Putting off the process could lead to an even more serious problem: mold. The best way to prevent water damage is to be a pro-active homeowner. Follow these tips on how to prevent basement leaks with landscaping. Don’t allow little issues to become huge problems; correct them now!

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Tip #1: Use an Extension Cord

Plugging the vacuum into a wall socket is no big thing, right? We agree! If you’re only vacuuming one room, that is. If you’re vacuuming the entire house (which should be done weekly), break out the extension cord. Why? Well, you’ll flow from room to room much quicker, and not have to worry about the annoyance of coming unplugged or not being able to reach the far corner of your bedroom.

Tip # 2: Deodorize

Save time by tackling two cleaning tasks at once! Sprinkle a carpet deodorizing powder all over the carpet, then allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Bonus: carpet deodorizing powders come in several scents, so your home will smell great too! After the deodorizer sits for 15 minutes, vacuum as usual, sucking up the deodorizing powder as you go.

Tip #3: Keep Your Vacuum Clean

Tackling dirt, dust, and debris head-on, your vacuum is sure to get a little dirty. Rolling a filthy vacuum cleaner across your rug or carpet will do more harm than good; so give your vacuum a little TLC and keep it clean! Otherwise, all your hard work will go to waste.

Tip #4: Focus on High-Traffic Areas

Do yourself a favor and vacuum all high-traffic areas on a weekly basis. But first, you must understand what defines a high-traffic area. As a good rule of thumb, you can safely consider the path from the front door to the couch, kitchen, hallway, and bathroom, and bedrooms high-traffic areas. If you’re thinking to yourself, “wait, isn’t that everywhere?” you’re not totally wrong. While high-traffic areas encompass most areas of a home, low traffic areas include a variety of spaces, such as:

• Inside Closets
• Under Beds
• Under Furniture
• Rarely Used Spaces (i.e. Formal Dining Rooms, Guest Bedrooms, Finished Basements, etc.)
• Corners & Small Spaces Behind Furniture

Tip #5: Opt for Vacuum Friendly Rugs

If you’re in the market for a new rug, for whatever reason, keep in mind that low-pile, synthetic rugs are the most vacuum-friendly. That doesn’t mean that wool or shag rugs can’t be cleaned, it simply means that they require more attention.  If you’ve got a wool or shag rug that needs a serious cleaning, leave it to a professional cleaning company.

Learning how to vacuum properly, or how to make vacuuming simpler, is pretty easy to do. Just follow these 5 basic tips and you should have a much easier, and possibly even more enjoyable, time vacuuming.

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Before Cleaning…

Whether you’re cleaning your carpet, couch, or even your favorite sweater, always take the time to read the manufacturer’s instructions. Can’t find the instructions? No problem; test a small amount of cleaning solution on the back, or underside, area of your sofa. Doing so ensures that no damage or discoloration will be caused by cleaning.

Cleaning Upholstered Sofas

Quick! Grab a handful of paper towels and begin blotting the stain. Never rub the fabric, it’ll only make the stain worse! If blotting is not working to remove the stain, or if the stain is not fresh, cover the area with baking soda, allowing it to sit for 20 minutes. After the 20-minute mark, vacuum up the powder. Voila – you’re stain free!

If the stain on your upholstery is grease-based, you’ll need something a bit more powerful than baking soda and blotting. Apply a small amount of Dawn dish soap to the stain, then wipe it away with a damp cloth. While both of these methods work wonders, the best way to keep upholstered furniture clean is with proactive vacuuming, which keeps dirt and food from settling into fabric.

Cleaning Leather Sofas

Has your leather sofa taken on a greasy texture or design? Blame it on sofa-snacking! To get rid of this greasy look, apply a dollop of mild dish soap onto the dirty areas and work into a lather with a damp cloth. Keep in mind, you’re working with leather; don’t get it too wet, or you’ll find yourself in the market for a new sofa!

After working the dish soap into a lather, use a second damp cloth to wipe up the suds, then follow up with a leather conditioner. Don’t have any leather conditioner handy? That’s okay, butter is a great substitute!

Cleaning Faux Leather Sofas

Faux leather sofas look great without breaking the bank, but stain like the real deal. To clean a stain on a faux leather sofa, dab rubbing alcohol on the problem area(s) with a soft cloth until the stain disappears. If rubbing alcohol doesn’t do the trick, there’s still hope; try the same mild dish soap technique that we suggested for cleaning leather furniture.

When to Call a Professional

If your stains and spills are beyond DIY cleaning techniques, contact a professional furniture cleaning company to assist. Remember, overworking a stain with your own cleaning methods could make the stain worse. Know when to throw in the towel (literally) and call on the pros!

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Sure, you’ve heard us preach about the dangers of dust mites before, but have you done anything about it? With as many as 100,000 dust mites on every square yard of carpeting, this can quickly become a serious health issue, not to mention, a nightmare for those with allergies.

Tips for eliminating Dust Mites

Consider this your how-to guide for demolishing dust mites! Use the tips below for every room in your home.

Tip #1: Monitor Humidity
Dust mites are drawn to warm, humid spaces. If you live in a humid environment, you’ll need to lower your humidity levels to 55% or lower. To do this effectively, you may way to purchase a dehumidifier. Also, if you can help it, don’t place carpets or rugs in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, or other high-humidity areas.

Tip #2: Opt for High-Efficiency Vacuum Bags
Another way to demolish dust mites is by using high-efficiency filter bags in your vacuum cleaner. Not only do high-efficiency filter bags help to control dust mite problems, but they make vacuuming more effective as well!

Tip #3: Choose Leather Furniture
While that super-plush sofa and micro-fiber ottoman may scream comfort, they also act as dust mite magnets. Unlike cloth upholstered furniture, leather furniture isn’t conducive to dust mites; keep that in mind the next time you go furniture shopping!

Tip #4: Replace Your Furnace Filter
This next tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a common household chore that is often forgotten or neglected: changing the furnace filter. Regularly changing your furnace filter is a simple, and low cost, way to keep the air fresh and clean and dust mites at bay.

Tip #5: Regularly Clean Carpets, Rugs & Furniture
Since rugs, carpets, and furniture harbor dust mites, professional cleaning services should be scheduled on a seasonal basis. In-between professional cleanings, take things into your own hands. Our DIY rug cleaning post has some great tips and tricks for the do-it-yourselfer; check it out!

Tip #6: Wash Bedding Weekly
Prepare yourself for this skin crawling statistic: Typical mattresses can harbor between 100,000 to ten million dust mites! With that being said, we recommend washing your bedding in hot water (130 degrees F, or higher) on a weekly basis. Now we know where the term “don’t let the bed bugs bite” came from!

Additional Assistance

Hopefully these tips helped you learn how to get rid of dust mites and will keep your home free of dust mites for many years to come! However, if you continue to have dust mite issues even after following these steps, you might have a serious problem on your hands. In that case, do not hesitate to call us at 800.466.9308, and we’ll help you out!

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About GuildQuality

As the leading independent customer satisfaction surveying company for the residential construction industry, GuildQuality utilizes highly-specific measures when generating customer feedback, such as cleanliness, safety, and quality of materials. By providing businesses, such as Woodard, with detailed data and in-depth analyses, they are given a stable platform not only for measuring success, but for defining it as well.

Topping the Charts

Since establishing their partnership only one year ago, Woodard has topped the GuildQuality performance charts in nearly every category, outshining average metrics achieved by peers in the industry. Additionally, in only one short year, Woodard’s overall performance score has jumped from an already stellar 92 percent to a chart-topping 99 percent.

“Nothing drives our team more than valuable feedback and goal setting,” said Dave Christoff, Woodard’s Vice President of Business Development. “Since 1946, Woodard has been, and always will be, a company that thrives on continuous improvement.”

While Woodard Cleaning scored in the 90th percentile in nearly every category, they achieved maximum success in scoring 100% in the categories of sales knowledge and the qualityof their installation crews. Other areas to note include scores of 97% and higher in the areas of scheduling, cleanliness, safety, and overall satisfaction.

About Woodard Cleaning & Restoration
Woodard Cleaning & Restoration Services was founded in 1946 as St. Louis’ first in-home rug and carpet cleaning company, and is now the area’s largest commercial and residential cleaning company for carpet, rugs, furniture, and hard surfaces. Additionally, Woodard Cleanign & Restoration is a preferred provider of water, fire, and smoke restoration services for residential, commercial and institutional facilities. For more information, visit Woodard’s website, or call 800.466.9308.

Time to stock up?

Have a bad case of brown water coming out of faucet? If the water that flows from your kitchen faucet in the morning looks more like a pale version of what’s brewing in your coffee pot, you’ve most likely got a rusty pipe issue. But at the moment you need water, whether for drinking, brushing your teeth or washing dishes, of course you’re wondering, can brown water hurt me? Let’s talk through this issue, a few words of warning, causes and remedies.

Causes of Brown Water in Pipes

When the murky stuff comes through your faucet, the culprit is most likely a rusty galvanized iron pipe. Rust dissolves into the water, tinting it some shade of brown (or red, yellow or orange as well, incidentally.) The varying discoloration is due to the chemical oxidation state of the pipe and the amount of rust in the water. The source of your rust issue could either be within the city’s municipal water main system, or a pipe in your home or place of business. Report the issue to your city’s water department. If it is the municipal system, they will take care of the issue on their end and you should see clean fresh water within a few hours. If they’ve received no other reports of rusty water, the problem probably resides at home. This is especially true if only one faucet in your home is affected, and the problem is at its worst first thing in the morning. You’ll need to inspect and replace your worn pipes or call a licensed plumber.

Couple other possible reasons for the code brown: if you’re on municipal water, sediment could have been mixed into your system during a water main break or when a fire hydrant was used. The fire department may also be flushing the hydrants, which can stir any sediment in the system and cause temporary water discoloration. (They usually do this once or twice annually.) If your issue clears within a few hours, this was most likely the case and you can consider it closed. It is also possible that dirt has entered your line from work that has been conducted on your water system. If this is the case, the brown discoloration will flush out within a few minutes. If you have a water heater that’s old or seen better days, it may be rusting and causing your water discoloration issue as well.

Is Brown Water Frop Sink Safe to Drink?

Believe it or not, yes. Brown (or other discolored) water is not harmful to drink or brush your teeth with. Whether or not you actually use it is totally up to you—there is an “ick” factor that must be considered.

You’re off the Hook
….with laundry, so long as you have discolored water. Brownish water is very harmful to laundry, especially white loads which are more susceptible to staining; don’t run your washing machine at all with this type of problem! If you fail to heed this warning and use your washer anyway, make sure you stay away from bleach with chlorine, which reacts to the rust in your water, ruining your laundry. If your brown water sink issues started mid-load, set the laundry aside until the problem has been remedied. Wash laundry again in clear water using a rust-stain remover (and lots of bleach this time!)

In the Meantime…

So while the brown water in your pipes doesn’t pose a health threat to you and your family or co-workers, you may want to consider boiling this water or purchasing large jugs of filtered water for drinking, cooking and hygiene purposes until the issue clears. If you have more questions about this issue, want to learn more plumbing tips and tricks, or are looking for a trusted plumber in the Saint Louis area, the friendly staff at Woodard Cleaning and Restoration is here to help. Call us now at (314) 961-9102.

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