Rusty water coming from the tap could mean a lot of things. One of the possible reasons for it is a malfunctioning water heater. Water heating experts say that one way to determine if it is indeed the water heater is by testing all the taps around the house.
If cold water is not rusty, but hot water has rust, then it could be the water heater acting up. Test other faucets in the house for hot water rusting, and if it indeed produces hot rusty water, then it is time to check the home water heating system.
Home design and architecture website Hunker.com explains how water heaters come to produce rusty water at times. They also discussed the possible reasons for rusting.
“One of the most common causes of rusty hot water is built-up sediment in the water heater. Small traces of rust and dirt from the water supply can accumulate as water is pumped through the water heater. This water settles on the bottom of the heater tank. When the tank is suddenly turned on, it stirs up the water and sends a burst of brownish sediment down through the waterline, making the hot water come out of the tap brown at first.”
Read the full explanation here.
Home improvement website Home Guides SF Gate meanwhile shared some tips on how to deal with rusty water coming from the home water heating system. In their article, they also explained how the water heater tank ends up producing rusty water.
“To remove rust from the bottom of a tank, you have to drain out the water. To do this, shut off the power to your electric heater or set your gas heater on pilot and shut off the water. After opening a hot water faucet in the house to admit air, attach a hose to the drain outlet and run the water into a sink or outside. You’ll be able to flush out some of the sediment by repeatedly filling the tank with about 5 gallons of cold water and draining it out.”
Read the rest of the article here.
Home improvement website The Spruce meanwhile suggested ways to remove rust from the water heater. They explained that a rusty water heater would soon evolve into a leaking water heater. In their web feature, they shared a guide that could help homeowners clear up their hot water supply and repair the leak.
“Most water heaters last between 10 to 13 years, and if one is leaking from the bottom of the tank inside the burner compartment, old age might be the cause. This is caused by years of sediment building up in the bottom of the water heater tank. Eventually, the bottom of the tank will rust through and begin to leak.”
Read more here.
Rusty water, however, is best addressed by a reliable licensed plumber.