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.
