What Do I Do If There's Rust in My Plumbing?
If you turn on your water and you see rust coming out of your faucet, this could be more than an annoyance. Rusty water can put your health and that of your family’s health in danger. You will want to find out what is causing the rust to be in your water supply and how to treat it. Rust coming out of your sink is a plumbing emergency. A licensed plumber should address this issue as soon as possible.
How To Tell If There Is Rust In My Water
In some instances, you may not always be able to see rust in your water. If your water starts to taste off and has a metallic flavor, it is a sign that rust is in the water. Rusty water will also stain white surfaces. This can cause porcelain or ceramic sinks to become discolored. Your next step will be to determine if the rust is coming from your water supply or from your home plumbing system.
Home Plumbing Pipes
You will want to test to see if the rust is coming from your home plumbing system. You will need to turn on your cold and hot water system to determine where the rust is coming from. If you have rusty water when you turn both of them on, this is a sign that your city plumbing water is rusty.
If you see rusty water coming from your hot water side, this is a sign that your water heater has corrosion. You will want to have a plumber come out and address that issue. If the rust only comes out when you turn on your cold water side, there is an issue somewhere in your plumbing system. A plumber will be able to determine where the issue is and fix it for you.
City Water Supply
If you have rust with both your hot water and cold water, this could be an issue with your city water supply. This could be due to corroded and rusty pipes with the city’s water source. You will want to call them immediately if you notice rust on both sides of your water supply.
Is Rusty Water Dangerous?
Rusty water is normal from time to time to see in your water and can be often corrected. But, rust is not pleasant to consume and can be a sign of a far greater hazard, and that is lead exposure. While a rusty pipe does not always mean lead, it can expose you to it. This is especially true if you live in an older home where the plumbing has not had a recent upgrade. If you see any rust in your water, it is important to get it checked out by a plumber to be on the safe side.
CALL US TODAY
If you notice any rust, please call Robert Bair today. Our team of plumbing professionals will be able to come out and do a full inspection. If we find rusty pipes, we will let you know how we can best fix this plumbing issue. We want to ensure you are not having to deal with rusty pipes and water.
