What Causes Milky Hot Water?

By Alana Luna

June 22, 2025

A deliciously creamy, cold cup of milk can be wonderful when you’re washing down a chocolate chip cookie. But when milky water emerges from your faucet, the experience is a lot less wholesome. Milky hot water can be a sign there’s something amiss with your water quality, pipes or water heater.

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Why Is My Hot Tap Water White, Milky or Cloudy?

You already know the milky hot water streaming from your faucet isn’t really dairy. Here’s a look at what could be causing this change in your water's appearance.

Hard Water

One of the most common causes of cloudy hot water is hardness. This is when your water supply has a high concentration of minerals. These minerals, most often magnesium and calcium, can make water look cloudy or milky. It can also change the taste of your water, making it more difficult to enjoy a cold glass of H2O.

Hard water can be an issue anywhere, but it’s more common in areas rich in limestone, chalk and other calcium-rich formations.

Sediment

If you spy white particles in your hot water, it could be water heater sediment or sediment coming from your water supply or pipes. Sediment is different from hard water. In this case, the cloudiness is often floating debris such as sand and dirt, not necessarily minerals.

Air Bubbles

Changes in water pressure can trap air in your hot water lines. This happens fairly frequently when hot water under pressure in your water heater is suddenly released and drawn through your tap. This process is called hot water aeration.

If you suspect your milky hot water is due to a high concentration of bubbles, you can perform a simple test to be sure. Just fill a clear glass with tap water, set it to the side and wait a few minutes. If the water clears up with no sediment at the bottom of the glass, you’re likely dealing with air bubbles. You may even be able to see the air bubbles slowly rise to the surface of the water and dissipate.

Temperature Changes

When water is heated, gases trapped in it begin moving faster. They eventually break away and bubble up to escape into the air. Along the way, the bubbles can make water look temporarily cloudy or milky.

Is Milky Hot Water Safe to Use?

Milky hot water may be unsightly, but in most cases it’s safe to use. When hot water turns milky, it usually only affects the taste, smell and appearance of the water. You should be able to bathe, wash clothes, brush your teeth and cook without worrying about your health. That said, you might not enjoy the taste of water rich in sediment or minerals.

Certain types of milky hot water can lead to buildup in your pipes and on and around plumbing fixtures. This is most common with hard water. The minerals are deposited on your faucets and sinks as water evaporates, leaving behind a crusty residue. You can usually remove this buildup yourself using a calcium, lime and rust remover or white vinegar.

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How Can I Fix Cloudy Hot Water From the Faucet?

How you fix your milky hot water issue depends on what you believe is causing the color shift in the first place. Here are some easy fixes you can try before consulting with a plumber

Install a water softener or refill your current water softener with approved salt pellets.
Install a water filtration system as close to your main water supply as possible. You may also need to flush your water heater to ensure accumulated sediment is removed so you can start fresh.
Clean or replace any clogged, bent or deteriorating faucet aerators.
Run your faucet for a few seconds until the water turns from milky to clear.
Use cold water for tasks that don’t require hot water.

If you’re bothered by milky hot water issues and these fixes don’t correct the problem, it may be time to call a professional. An experienced plumber can assess your home and plumbing system to see if there’s a bigger problem that needs attention, such as corroded pipes or an outdated water heater.

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