Orange, brown, or black stains on sinks, tubs, toilets, and faucets are often caused by iron, manganese, or other minerals in your water. Stains can come from the water supply or from aging household plumbing. Testing identifies what is causing the staining so the right treatment can be recommended.
Colored stains on sinks, tubs, toilets, and faucets are a visible sign that something in your water is leaving deposits behind. The color often points to the cause: orange, red, or brown usually means iron; dark brown or black can mean manganese; blue-green staining can indicate corrosion in copper plumbing. Stains like these are common with well water and with older plumbing and are a frequent reason homeowners request a water test.
This problem can have more than one possible cause — from the water supply to household plumbing to a water heater. Identifying the cause is the right first step, because the solution depends on what is actually happening.
Fixture staining is mainly a practical and cosmetic concern — it makes sinks, tubs, and toilets hard to keep clean and can be frustrating. The minerals that cause staining can also affect appliances, laundry, and water clarity. Staining is not automatically a health hazard, but it is worth investigating because it points to conditions in your water that a test can measure and a treatment system can address.
Not every water problem is solved the same way. The right option depends on what testing finds in your water. Here are solutions that may apply — a water test tells you which one actually fits your conditions.
Targets the dissolved iron and manganese that cause orange, brown, and black staining, so fixtures stay cleaner and water is clearer.
Learn moreWhen staining comes from a private well, a well-specific plan addresses the iron, manganese, and hardness your water actually contains based on testing.
Learn moreReduces sediment and scale that combine with minerals to make stains harder to remove, helping fixtures stay cleaner.
Learn moreIron and manganese filtration targets the metals that cause orange, brown, or black staining on fixtures, laundry, and appliances — and metallic or bitter taste. These systems are selected based on the form and concentration measured in your water test.
Learn moreHomes on private wells are responsible for their own water quality. Well water filtration and treatment addresses concerns common to private supplies — sediment, iron, hardness, odor, and bacterial risks — with equipment selected based on a test of your actual well water.
Learn moreA whole house water filtration system treats water at the point where it enters your home, so every faucet, shower, and appliance receives filtered water. It is designed to reduce sediment, chlorine taste and odor, and other common contaminants depending on the media used.
Learn moreEvery home's water is different. Generation H2O can help you understand your water conditions and explore solutions based on your test results — with no obligation.
Free test • No obligation • Tested at your tap
Explore more water-quality issues and the testing and treatment options for each.