The supposedly clean water you get from your water supply company might sometimes not be as clean as you expect. Sometimes the water comes with various impurities that undermine its quality. Some of these impurities are not harmful to your health but they still affect the taste, color, and cleaning abilities of the water. One of the most common impurities in clean tap water is rust. Rust is oxidized iron and it makes the water taste and smell like metal and look reddish brown in color. The main problem with rusty water is that it smells, tastes, and looks funny. The rust deposits also leave spotty stains on your white linens and porcelain sinks. The first thing that you should do when you notice rust in your water is to determine the source; whether it’s from the water supply company or in your water supply system. Some common causes of rusty water include the following.
Corroded Water Main
The main water supply pipe that supplies water from the utility company might be corroded. This usually happens in areas where the main pipes are old and corroded. If the rust is coming from the water main, then it means that the problem is with the water supply company. That is why you should always determine the source of the rust before taking any other step. If you suspect that the rusty water is being caused by corrosion in the water main, then you should not hesitate to call your water supply company to explain the situation. They will have to replace the corroded water main to ensure that everyone gets rust-free water.
Corroded Water Supply Pipes
The rusty water could be confined to your house. The rust could be coming from your corroded water supply pipes. If you determine that the rust is coming from your house through the test explained above, then you need to call a professional residential and/or commercial plumber in DC to determine the exact source of the rust. The corroded water supply pipe(s) should be indentified and replaced immediately to solve the rusty water problem.
Corroded Fixtures
Another cause of rusty water in your home is corroded fixtures. If some or all of your taps, showers, and other fixtures are corroded, then you will have a rusty waster problem in your hands. You should check which fixtures are producing rusty water and replace them.
Corroded Water Heater
If you notice that only the hot water is rusty, then it means that your water heater is corroded. If the tank is corroded, then you will have to replace the entire unit to solve the rusty water problem. Your local plumber can help you choose the right type of water heater you should use as a replacement, and get you fixed up in no time. You can prevent this corrosion by replacing the anode rod in the water heater tank every few years.