Why Is My Water Rusty?

Water can sometimes be clearer. Sometimes it's yellow, brown, or even red. These changes indicate minerals in your water that will affect the taste, and smell, possibly creating a health concern for you and your family. Most people don't think about it until it affects them. Nobody likes to live with that yucky metallic taste of rusty water. How does this happen? What is the trail of events that lead to your tap water tasting or even smelling like iron? When you have rusty water, contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing. Often the issue is created by old pipes, and you need a pipe replacement.

Water is one of our most essential resources, and we rely on it to keep us healthy. If you're experiencing rusty water in your home, it can be a problem that needs to be addressed ASAP.

Mineral Sediments

When you have hard water, mineral sediments can build up in your pipes, fixtures, and appliances. These sediments will cause rust stains and deposits on your fixtures and appliances. The most common cause of hard water is the presence of iron in the water supply. This occurs when the water comes in contact with oxidized iron in rocks or soil through which it passes before reaching the municipal water treatment plant.

Iron In the Water If You Have a Well

If you have well water, chances are good that you have seen some discoloration in your water at one time or another. This is because of the minerals and sediment in your well. As these minerals and sediments build up in your pipes, they can cause rust or discoloration in your water. Seeing this kind of discoloration regularly indicates that your well needs cleaning or repair work done.

City Planning or Construction

There are many reasons why city planning or construction could cause discolored water. These include drilling for new wells and building new roads with concrete cement mixers near areas where people live who use private wells for their drinking water supply. When these machines operate close to residential areas, they produce dust particles that get into the air and fall onto people's homes, which then can get into their drinking water supply.

Old Pipes

Old pipes usually cause rusty water. As pipes age, they can develop leaks or cracks that allow minerals in the soil around them to seep in. Newer homes are designed with plastic pipes that don't rust as easily as steel ones, but even new plastic pipes can develop tiny cracks over time that allow iron and manganese to seep into your drinking supply.

If your water is rusty, contact a professional plumber like Mr. Rooter Plumbing to help determine if you need repairs or replacements.

Get Your Water Lab Tested

To fix the problem of rusty water, it helps first to know what's causing it in the first place! Your local utility company may have its own test lab where it can test your water for contamination or contamination levels — or they may offer this service for an additional charge if you ask them about it ahead of time (it's worth asking!).

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

There are many causes of rusty water… and it's not all as simple as buying a water filter! Having your water tested at an independent lab is the best way to determine what elements you have in your water and whether additional treatment or filters (or both) may be in order. With the lab results, a skilled plumber can resolve the problem with an appropriate solution.