Have you ever poured yourself a glass of filtered water and noticed that it looks cloudy? Your filtered water has a cloudy, almost milky look to it when you fill your glass and you think to yourself, why does your filtered water look cloudy?
Cloudy water from a water filter is usually caused by tiny air bubbles in the water. These air bubbles often occur after changing a water filter, from air being drawn into the water through gaps in filter seals, or from a change in water temperature.
Most of the time, cloudy water from a water filtering system is simply due to harmless air bubbles in the water that will dissipate after a short time.
What Causes Cloudiness In Filtered Water?
- Air trapped in a filter housing – When changing water filters, there will often be areas within the filter housing that will contain air even after the housing has been sealed. This trapped air can dissolve into the water and then show up as cloudy water.
- Air pockets in a sediment filter mesh – A new water sediment filter has many small pockets of air in the mesh of the filter itself. After the filter cartridge is inserted into the filter housing, these air pockets can dissolve in the water which can make it appear cloudy.
- Air pockets in carbon Filter – Water filters that contain grains or flakes of carbon in them to trap gasses in the water that may cause odors also can contain trapped air in the carbon which releases into the water to give it a cloudy look.
- Carbon dust released from carbon filters – New water filters that contain carbon can also contain carbon dust left over from the processing of the carbon contained in the filter. This carbon dust can give water flowing through the filter a cloudy appearance.
- Filter not sealing correctly – Water filters and filter housings often use a rubber seal to prevent leaking. A rubber seal may contain the water within the housing while still allowing air to seep into the housing which can cause cloudy-looking air bubbles in the water.
- Very cold water – Cold water can hold far more air in it than warmer water. Very cold water coming into the home can release dissolved air in it as the water becomes warmer which can lead to cloudy-looking air bubbles in the water as it becomes warm.
- A crack in a water well line or plumbing – A crack or gap in your home’s plumbing may allow air to work its way into your water that can escape from your water once it is no longer under pressure by the plumbing of your home.
There could be air bubbles in all of your water but it is not so noticeable coming out of your sink or bath. Even a tiny crack in the plumbing of your home can allow air into your water that may become apparent in your filtered water but not so obvious from other water sources in your home.
Why Is My Filtered Water Cloudy After Changing The Filter?
During normal use, a water filter will be completely saturated with water.
After a water filter change, there can be pockets of air within the housing for a period of time that can release air into the water that can then appear in the water coming out of the filter.
Is Cloudy Filtered Water Safe To Drink?
If the cloudy water coming from your water filter is simply dissolved air bubbles, the filtered water should be perfectly safe to drink but since there can be other reasons that your water could be cloudy, you should have your water tested if you are at all concerned about other issues with your water.
Does Cloudy Water From My Water Filter Mean The Filter Is Bad?
In rare cases, a filter cartridge could have a defect that could cause the filter material to break down and become mixed in with your water.
In most cases, cloudy water from a new water filter is perfectly normal and your water should become less cloudy as the filter cartridge releases any trapped air.
Why Does My Cloudy Water Become Clear?
After you pour filtered water into a glass, tiny air bubbles in the water can make the water appear cloudy. As the air bubbles rise to the top of the water and dissipate, the water will gradually appear clearer.
What If My Filtered Water Does Not Clear Up?
Cloudy filtered water is very often due to dissolved air bubbles in the water that will clear relatively quickly.
But if your filtered water remains cloudy after sitting for several minutes, there could be turbidity in your water.
Turbidity is caused by particles suspended or dissolved in water that scatter light making the water appear cloudy or murky. (source)
To understand what is causing turbidity in your water, you should have your water tested by a laboratory that will be able to determine what substances are in your water.
What Can I Do About Cloudy Filtered Water?
- Lightly tapping on the outside of a water filter housing as the water is running through it can help to release air bubbles that are trapped inside of the housing or within the filter cartridges.
- Running water several times from a refrigerator water filter will help remove air pockets in a water filter.
Check Out This Quick Video On How To Purge Air From A Refrigerator Water Filter!
In most cases, there is no need to do anything about cloudy filtered water. The air bubbles in your water that are causing the cloudy filtered water will dissipate quickly and are often perfectly harmless.
Are There Filters That Do Not Make Water Cloudy?
Generally, the type, size, or brand of filter cartridge will make no difference as far as air being trapped within the filter cartridge.
Presoaking water filter cartridges and giving them a shake while soaking can greatly reduce air pockets in the filter material but all filter cartridges will contain some air pockets in them as they are dry, to begin with.
Will A Larger Filter Make My Water Less Cloudy?
I have never found that the size of the filter cartridge has any bearing on whether or not the filtered water will contain air bubbles that will make the filtered water appear cloudy.
A larger filter cartridge will contain more air pockets and therefore it may take longer for your cloudy water to become clear with a larger filter cartridge than with a smaller one.
To Sum Up!
Cloudy water coming from a water filter is often due to tiny air bubbles that are no longer dissolved in the water and have become visible.
Air trapped in new water filter cartridges and filter housings can be dissolved into the water and then appear as cloudy water.
Filtered water that does not become clear after sitting may be cloudy due to turbidity or other pollutants in the water and the water may not be safe for consumption.
