You’ve probably ever taken a shower or washed your face with water that just wasn’t right. It was clearer than it looked, and had a bad smell. If you feel that something is wrong, it’s likely that there are red flags. There are many reasons why rusty water might occur. Here are the most common:
Sediment Build-Up
Galvanized pipes become brittle over time. The rust and dirt build up in the pipes. The sediment stays at the bottom until it builds up, or when increased pressure causes the pipe to vibrate. This results in the release of rusty liquid.
Rusty Pipes
Many of the water systems in Houston homes were installed decades ago. This was at a time when galvanized pipes were very common.
These pipes last approximately 50 years, and are now nearing their expiration date. The first sign your pipes are deteriorating is rusty water. With galvanized pipes, lead contamination may also be an issue.
How To Get Rid of Rusty water
Locate the source of the rust first. Do the rusty pipes or main supply come from your home? There are two options once you have done this:
Flush the pipes
Attach a hose to the main water supply, and allow the water to run for between 20-30 minutes. Run all cold water faucets throughout your house at high pressure if the main supply is your home’s plumbing. This process will take around 20 minutes.
Replace rusty pipelines
Flushing is only effective if there are no rusty areas. The only way to fix a leaking pipe is to replace it.