Air or cloudy water after a water line repair
When the water comes back on after a repair, the first few minutes can be noisy and cloudy. Here is what is normal.
Published 2026-10-20
In short
Trapped air and disturbed sediment are normal after a repair; flushing cold taps for a few minutes usually clears them.
What is normal
- Spitting and sputtering at faucets as air escapes
- Milky water that clears from the bottom up in a glass (air bubbles)
- A little rust-colored water from older plumbing
- Knocking pipes for a short time
How to flush the lines
- Remove aerators from a few faucets.
- Open the cold water at the lowest tap in the house, then work upward.
- Let each run for a few minutes until steady and clear.
- Clean the aerators and put them back.
When to call back
If pressure is lower than before the repair, water stays discolored, or you hear water running with everything off, ask the repair provider to recheck the connection.
Common questions
Is cloudy water safe to drink?
Cloudiness from air bubbles clears quickly and is common. If you are unsure, flush the lines and ask your water utility.
Why is my water heater making noise?
Sediment stirred by the repair can settle in the tank. Flushing the heater can help.
Water coming up between the meter and the house?
Call to talk with an independent water line repair provider serving your part of Alabama. Ask about timing, then decide.