Hi,
I'm seeing brown water from my bathtub facuet (hot only) when I fill my bathtub. It only happens in the tub, though; Not in the shower or sink.
I saw some other posts that talk about draining the hot water heater, but I don't think that is the issue, because I am not seeing it anywhere else.
The system is a TurboMax "on demand" system (a seperate zone on the heating system).
Any ideas?
Thanks

talaniman

Does the brown water still come out after you"ve run it for a minute or two?

mktrem

no.... it stops after a while.
but if I need to add some more hot water, it will start again (more briefly than the first time).

talaniman

Let it run for 10 minutes it should be enought to flush the line out.Is this the only faucet with this problem?

Martin Harrison

Hi, have you galvanised pipework in the system / leading to the water heater.
Is it a rust colour.

m

mktrem

No gal pipe.....all copper.
yes... this is the only faucet doing this.
yes... rust colored... if I fill a glass with it and let it sit.... it all settles on the bottom.
I don't think it is the faucet rusting. It doesn't happen on the cold side, and the bathroom is on the second floor. Hot water system in the basement and it takes half a minute or so before the brown appears.
I know.... it doesn't make sense....... If the heater is the source, why not any of the other 7 faucets in between then? This is my puzzle.

Martin Harrison

what sort of time span are we talking about is it 10 seconds or 30 seconds, or more?
Is it worse if its not been used all day.
m

Martin Harrison

Sorry I mean what is the duration of the brown flow.
m

mktrem

probably 40 or 45 seconds or so.
Also, since it is seperate from the shower, the tub is not frequently used often. Two or three times a month is normal.

Martin Harrison

It still sounds to me as if there is an iron fitting being used somewhere along the line. When the tap is not used the iron oxide builds up and when it is used it flushes the deposits away.
m