What Does it Mean if You Have Rusty Water?
If you’ve lived in an older house or building,
you’ve probably had the experience of turning on your faucet only to be shocked by a surge of brownish water coming out. Rusty-coloured water is not only unappealing; in some cases, it can also be unsafe for consumption.
You may be surprised that rusty water can happen in newer homes and buildings as well as older ones. Though usually, it is not a cause for alarm, it’s important that you know what to do when it happens.
Causes of Rusty Water
One of the most common causes of brownish water coming out of your faucet is sediment buildup in the water heater. Rust can also come from older pipes. Another reason for discoloured water is oxidizing bacteria. If this is the case, chlorine can be used to treat the water.
Rusty water may also stem from a problem with the main water line itself. If there is construction going on nearby, sometimes the lines get disrupted, and you may have discoloured water in your home for a couple of hours.
Rust itself isn’t usually a safety hazard, and a little bit of sediment that goes away quickly, happens on occasion in most buildings. But if the pipes are old and damaged, other harmful substances can leak in, leaving the water unsafe for consumption.
How to Stop or Prevent Rusty Water
When you see rusty water, you’ll want to determine the source as soon as possible – is the water coming from inside your home, or through your main water line? You can figure this out by running the faucet that runs next to the main line which is normally the one at the front of the house. If that water contains rust, it means it’s probably coming from outside of your home.
If you have determined that it’s coming from inside your house, or you’d like to test for the source, open a few cold-water taps in the house and let them run for about 20 minutes. This should get the sediment out of the pipes. If you do this a couple of times and the problem returns, this is a sign you’ll need a more thorough investigation and repair.
When to Call a Plumber
If you have flushed your pipes and have confirmed that the rusty water isn’t anything to do with an external problem from outside the main water line, and the problem is consistent, it may be time to replace your pipes. Don’t wait to call a plumber in this instance as the water could be contaminated.
Most of the time rusty water isn’t an emergency type of situation, but since we all need water to survive, you shouldn’t put yourself at risk. Calling your local trusted plumber is the quickest and easiest solution if you are unsure of what to do.
If you have been experiencing rusty water on an ongoing basis, this could indicate a severe problem with your pipes. It’s important to call a certified professional who offers a range of plumbing services to investigate your plumbing system.
Looking for plumbing help in Toronto?Call or message Drain Rescue Plumbers anytime for more information – we’re here to help!