Common Problems with Water after it has been switched off

Occasionally water supply has been switched off to carry out repairs, burst pipes, etc., When this happens some sediment can become dislodged from the water pipes during the switching back on of the supply causing it to look brown or dirty. If you run the water for a short time it should run clear.

It is also quite common for water to appear cloudy or milky when it is switched on again, If you leave the water to settle in the glass you will see that this will clear. This is because of extra air trapped in the water. When left to stand the air quickly leaves and the water is as clear as normal.

People often worry about using the central heating system when water is turned off. If a registered contractor has installed your central heating system, it will be run from a separate expansion tank in the attic. This water will not be affected by a water mains shutdown and it is safe to use your central heating.

Sometimes water has come back to the cold taps downstairs but there is still no water in the upstairs bathroom. This occurs in some plumbing systems after a water shutdown. This may cause an airlock in your system and you may need to engage a plumber to eliminate it. Wicklow County Council endeavours to keep shutdown of supplies to a minimum but do not maintain interior plumbing systems.