Picture this, it’s the middle of September the fall season is closing in, but summer is still hanging on. You walk into your house after mowing the lawn in 80 degree heat and think, boy would I like a glass of water. You turn on the faucet and water with a yellow tint comes out. “What on earth could be causing my water to be that color”, you say. Fear not, it could be caused by rust. Take a look at some of the causes of rust in water and what you can do about it.
So why is there rust in my water in the first place?
Rusty water can come from several different sources, some from inside the home and others from outside it. Rust can come from rust in the water heater, rusty pipes, or a break in the water main. Here are some ways you can determine what is causing the rust.
Locating the Source
First and foremost, it is important to determine if the rust is coming from the water main or from one of the pipes within your house. A quick way to do this is to run the outside faucet that is closest to the water main into a clear cup. If the water is murky and brown after doing this there is probably a problem with the water main. If not, the pipes within your house could be the culprit. If you have determined that the source of the rust is coming from within your house it is time to investigate further.
Water Heater
As water heaters get older they can start to rust out from the bottom and will need replaced. An easy way to tell if the rust is from the water heater is to run hot water through your faucet and then run cold water through your faucet. If the hot water is brown and murky and the cold water is not, you probably have a problem with your water heater.
Rusting Pipes
Older homes can sometimes have rusting pipes due to age. One way to determine if your pipes are indeed rusting is to run your faucets on both hot and cold temperatures. If you see rusty, yellow water in both it might be time to get your pipes replaced.
My pipes are rusting, what can I do?
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get rid of rust sediment build up in your pipes is to flush the pipes in your house. Open most of the water taps in your house and run them on cold at the highest pressure for 20 minutes. This will help push sediment out of your pipes.
Unfortunately, the metal pipes and water heater in your house can rust. Use the tips given above to determine just what exactly is going on in your house. If you do have pipes that are rusting past the point of no return, request an appointment with the expert plumbers at Superior Drain.
