How to fix brown water from taps?

[emmab1986]

Hello, could you please advise me why water coming out of both laundry sink taps is sometimes brown and does not always run clear, even after running the taps for a while. Even when water is not brown, it is murky.

Thanks in advance!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @emmab1986,

Do you get the brown water with both hot and cold? If it's only with the hot water, it can be a sign that the water heater is on the way out and rusting through. I had brown-tinted water for a couple of months before mine went.

Mitchell

[emmab1986]

Good morning, Dave.

Thanks for your comments, which are correct. The gal pipes are inline with the laundry. Could anything be done to address this situation? The gal pipes in the wall also.

[emmab1986]

Yes, both hot and cold water. I spoke to the previous tenants, and the brown water was never an issue. Only after I moved in, when the house was unoccupied for 1.5 months. Do you think that's part of the reason?

[MitchellMc]

If the cold water is brown, then it's unlikely to be the hot water heater at fault @emmab1986. I'd open up all the hot and cold taps fully for 5 minutes and see if it flushes it out. Also, are there any taps with aerators on the tip of the spout? Unscrew them and clean them out. Run the taps without the aerators as they will trap any sediment in the spout.

Mitchell 

[emmab1986]

Thank you so much for your tips. I just checked, no tap aerator. I'll run the taps for 5 minutes.

[emmab1986]

partially through gal pipe

[Noyade]

Hi @emmab1986 

Yes, I was gonna say old gal pipes can cause issues. This one below would give us 3 seconds of dirty water from the front hose before clearing.

The section was replaced. It was rotting internally, externally and beginning to leak.

[emmab1986]

This is the brownwater I talked about. It became clear after a short flush. Would you recommend what to do?

[EricL]

Hello @emmab1986 

I believe its time to call in the professionals; I would start with a licensed plumber and ask them to do a leak and pressure test. This will reveal if your plumbing has been compromised and if there is a busted section somewhere outside your home. The next specialist I would call would be a leak detection specialist. They will have the tools necessary to track down any possible leaks that is happening inside or outside your home. 

Once they've done their tests it should possibly narrow down the location of the rusty section or the leak. 

Eric

[emmab1986]

THere is no leak.

we have a couple of plumbers (licensed) in. they have totally different view of this. One guy said he can replace the pipe with copper one and the other two said it's not a big deal, just leave it as it is. we are confused. should we replace the gal pipe?