Causes of Rusty Water

Have you noticed a change in your water? Even if your water looks clear, if you have started to notice brown or orange stains on your sinks and tub or dingy clothing, you may have rust in your water. Although many people with well water fight with rust issues, if this is a new problem, it may be coming from inside your home. To find the cause or source of the issue, you may need to investigate your plumbing fixtures. 

If the rust is not coming from your water source, it is being added somewhere along the way. This is usually from one of two places: your water heater or your plumbing pipes. There are a few ways to determine which is the cause. The easiest is to start with your water heater.

Most water heaters last between 10-15 years, sometimes more. It is common for lime and minerals to collect within the tank, which can cause rust. To stop this corrosion, it is recommended that water heaters undergo annual maintenance to flush out these collected minerals. Draining the tank and having your water heater inspected by a professional plumber is the easiest way to determine whether your rusty water is being caused by your water heater.

If the water heater is not to blame, most likely you have an old pipe that is rusting, emitting rust into your water supply. Your local plumber can help you find any pipes that may need to be replaced to remedy the issue.

Water filtration and softeners can reduce rust in your water, but they won’t fix the problem if the rust is coming from inside your home. Schedule an appointment with your trusted plumber to get the rust problem resolved for good.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

What’s The Best Solution For Rusty Water?

If you have rusty water, the kind of water that leaves those lovely orange-brown stains in your toilets, tubs and sinks, the first step in fixing it is knowing where it is coming from. For some areas of the country, if your home is on a well, you know exactly where it is coming from. However, if you don’t have a well or iron-laden water is not normal in you area, most likely it is coming from within your home. 

There are two main ways rusty water can enter your faucet: your well water or your water heater. Figuring out which one is causing the issue is the next step.

  • Water heater. If your water heater is older, this may be your problem. First try flushing it out to see if that fixes the problem. It may be time to get a new water heater, maybe a tankless version that does not hold water so it does not rust.
  • Well water. If your water is rusty do to the water coming from a well, you need a water softener and/or an iron filter to get the rust out of your water. The amount of rust and other minerals in your water will determine the type of softner or filter required. Have your water tested for hardness by a professional and seek out expert advice on the proper filtration system needed for your particular problem.

Once you have the problem corrected, do a thorough cleaning of your plumbing fixtures to remove the rust deposits with the assurance that the rust stains will not be returning.