The hot water is fine but the cold water from every faucet is running orange/brown. What does this mean? Help
2007-07-15 15:21:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
This is city water. It just started last night. After running the water in all the faucets, it looks clear. The toilet water is still a little orange but we don't want to flush it too much. It has been raining alot too. The pipes from the water heater are copper.
2007-07-16 05:00:25 · update #1
rust in the pipes
2007-07-15 15:25:39 · answer #1 · answered by greedywendy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does the water that comes out actually red and rusty or does it get this way after it sits awhile?
If it comes out this way, you have a serious problem, your pipes are getting corroded on the inside and need to be changed to IE: copper or PVC. Call a plumber. This could run 3 to 8 thousand dollars, it depends on a lot of issues.
If this happens when sitting, then it a chemical called Iron bacteria. Not the germ bacteria but a chemical. The two are not related, the iron in the water will turn black and inky after sitting in the sun or when you cook potatoes in it, the starches, when you wash white clothes, the soaps turn it blackish. There's nothing you can do about this.
You can carry your drinking water, like thousands of people all over the "Thumb" of Michigan and other places that have coal mines or salt wells.
You wouldn't believe all the people that don't have good drinking water.
2007-07-15 22:47:28 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If it just started I'd advise you to run your water till it runs clean and for 10 more minutes afterwards.
Also, you need to run out all the water from the water heater several times. If you don't, then The rust in the water will settle to the bottom of the water heater and will infiltrate.
There is a part in your water heater called a dip rod. This rod attracts impurities in the water heater, and when it gets so full it will no longer do its job. The impurities will settle to the bottom and will cause your water heater to not function as long as it should.
The brown/orange color is from impurities often caused by rust in the pipes. If the city has recently done work in your area this will affect the water also.
1. Buy a few gallons of purified water to use in emergencies such as this.
2. Get a water filter for your kitchen sink for cooking purposes. (Do not use the filter while the water is off color, always let it run til it runs clear, then filter the clear water to be sure to remove any further impurities.)
3. And remember to NEVER use hot water for cooking/consumption, even if your water is clear.
2007-07-15 15:41:16 · answer #3 · answered by MsAdviseALot 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as was said there is some rust in the pipes delivering the cold water. turn the faucets on in the place for about 15 minutes including the tub, that should clear the water lines.
2007-07-15 15:38:00 · answer #4 · answered by barrbou214 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "mixer" somewhere is your system is leaking. Hot and cold water pressures are seldom identical in your home, so anywhere they meet and there is no outlet, one will flow into the other. "Mixers" can be an appliance such as a clothes washer which is connected to both hot & cold and the water is left on when the appliance is off........and mixing faucets such as the shower/bath, bathroom sink and kitchen faucet. I'm betting the hum you hear is the hot water running through the kitchen faucet into the cold while the faucet is off.........you turn on the cold faucet and for a while get the hot water that has made it way into the cold line.
2016-05-18 22:17:56 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rusty pipes after the split to the water heater
If you have galvanized pipes coming in but copper to the faucet
You need a DI-electric union between the two pipes or the galvanized pipe will start electrolysis and begin to break down
And possibility is a broken pipe
If the pipe is cracked and near the ground, it will drip out when the faucet is off but suck in the muck when the faucet is on
2007-07-15 15:28:33 · answer #6 · answered by chirodoc77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the pipe under the sink that comes out of the wall is either corroded or made of the wrong material.it may be black pipewhen it should be galvinized or copper. replace the part.
2007-07-15 15:48:19 · answer #7 · answered by tee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like the others said probley rust in your pipes but could also be if they used or flushed a fire hydrant near you today could also bring sediment into your house
2007-07-15 15:30:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probbly have steel pipes in your house, over time theyrust and there you have it , nasty colored water.
2007-07-15 16:13:41 · answer #9 · answered by Nathan L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
city or well water??
2007-07-16 04:42:12 · answer #10 · answered by tom the plumber 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋