Rusty water can be a problem for many homeowners. If you see this discoloration in your water, it could mean a problem with your plumbing system.
There are several different ways to find out where rust is coming from in your plumbing system. Here are some tips:
Check Your Water Heater
If you have a water heater, check to see if it has an anode rod protecting the tank from rust. Most tanks have anodes that prevent them from rusting out. If the anode rod is not working properly or is removed, the tank may be susceptible to rusting. You can replace the old one with a new one or add one to protect it further.
Inspect the Drain System
The drain system in your home can also become rusty over time. This is especially true if you live in an area where water has high iron content or if there are pipes made of iron in your home’s plumbing system. Rust can accumulate here and cause clogs over time, reducing the flow of water through your pipes, causing them to leak or burst due to pressure buildup from backed-up sewage in drains and sewers.
Examine Your Hot and Cold Faucets
Another step in determining the source of rust in your plumbing system is checking whether you see rust coming out of hot and cold faucets. If you see rust coming out of hot and cold faucets, rust is likely to present in your plumbing system. If you see rust coming out of only one tap, it’s probably not a problem with your plumbing system — it may just be that the tap needs cleaning or replacing.
Test the Water
Before shutting off a rust-infested faucet, allow the water to flow for several minutes to remove the rust. This can assist in flushing away any silt left inside pipes from prior use, which may be causing flow issues when you turn on taps later. If there is no visible rust after running the water for about five minutes, there could be a problem with your whole-house filtration system or sedimentation tank.
Look for Rusty Patches
If you have white clothes and notice rust stains, there may be rust in your washing machine or pipes. Check out any other appliances that use hot water—like your dishwasher or shower—for signs of rust. If you see any telltale orange spots, those could be sources of what’s causing the problem with your clothes.
Call a Professional Plumber
The best way to find out whether it’s coming from an internal source is to call a plumber. The plumber will be able to locate the source of the rust and fix it for you. Finding out where rust is coming from in your plumbing system can help you preserve it by fixing any leaks or other problems that may have led to rust buildup.
Our Bueno Plumbing professionals will work with you to pinpoint the problem area and fix it for good so that you never have to worry about rust stains again! We are equipped not only with modern methods but also with state-of-the-art tools like our video camera inspections to help us save you time and money when dealing with your plumbing issues!
