Why is it that when I first turn on my hot water in the bathtub it is brown? When I've been gone for a few weeks it is really bad... how can I fix this?

The pipes are rusty. DO you live in an apartment or a house?

Hi Rallenstein:

Very rare for pipes to make rusty water (unless tub spout piping is a black metal nipple then it is possible)... so for now...

Is this only happening at your bathtub? Test this by filling the sink in bathroom to the top with hot water only and let us know if that water is brown too...

It could be that the anode rod in your water heater is defective and needs to be replaced or the heater may be too old and that will need to be replaced.

Do the test.. let us know what you find... ok?

MARK

How long since you flushed water heater?

Hi Rallenstein,

It is possible that your anode rod in your water heater is defective like mark says, does the water smells bad if so it is definitely the anode rod, or it is time to flush your heater is Harold is asking, Good Luck.

John

The brown is iron oxide,(rust) built up in the water heater. Do you have galvanized piping in your house? Try flushing your heater and see if that doesn't help.
For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow grains,(lime or calcium carbonate). This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps, Tom

I would like my 2 cents also, Thanks.

John

Water Heater Flush
Water heater manufacturers recommend flushing sediment from your storage type water heater periodically. How often your model needs to be flushed depends upon the quality of the water in your area. Areas with high mineral content will have to flush more often.
What is sediment, and why is it a problem? The sediment is sand or other grit from a well, or any other material that has gotten into the municipal water mains. Sediment can also come into your home after the water company flushes out their lines.
Over time, your heater can accumulate this sediment consisting of sand, gravel, grit, and various mineral deposits. This buildup can reduce the amount your water heater holds, create a variety of interesting noises, and reduce the efficiency of your unit. The buildup of sediment at the bottom can harden and sometimes clog the drain valve.
Cleaning this sediment from out of your water heater is not particularly difficult; here is how to do it.
If your water heater is gas, set the gas valve to "Pilot" to prevent the burners from coming on while you are flushing it. If your heater is electric be sure to turn off the circuit breakers. With an electric water heater, if the water level drops below the heating elements and the thermostat turns the elements on, the heating elements will probably burn out quite rapidly.
Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Make sure the outlet of the hose is in a safe area away from pets and children. It can be very hot and can scald quickly
Close the shut off valve on the cold inlet to the water heater.
Carefully open the temperature/pressure relief valve at the top of the tank by lifting the lever. Leave the valve open.
Open the drain valve at the bottom of the heater allowing the water to flow out through the garden hose. If the sediment is clogging the drain valve then try closing the temperature/pressure relief valve and turn the cold inlet valve back on to "power flush" the sediment out.
In some cases the sediment hardens into large chunks that can block the drain valve. If so, then wait until everything cools down, remove the garden hose from the drain valve, remove the valve if necessary, and use a long screw driver to break up the clog. This is a very messy procedure.
When the garden hose runs clear you are finished.
Close the drain valve at the bottom of the tank and remove the garden hose.
Close the pressure relief valve at the top of the tank if it is still open, and turn the cold inlet valve back on.
Open a hot water faucet in your house, and let it run until no air bubbles come out.
Turn the heater back on, and with gas units re-light the pilot light if necessary.

The pipes are rusty. DO you live in an apartment or a house?

A HOUSE

Hi Rallenstein:

Very rare for pipes to make rusty water (unless tub spout piping is a black metal nipple then it is possible)...so for now...

Is this only happening at your bathtub?? Test this by filling the sink in bathroom to the top with hot water only and let us know if that water is brown too...

It could be that the anode rod in your water heater is defective and needs to be replaced or the heater may be too old and that will need to be replaced.

Do the test..let us know what you find....ok??

MARK


It only happens in the tub, it doesn't smell and we bought the house almost 2 years ago and have never 'flushed it'... never knew you were supposed to... the heater is 10 years old too...

Now is the time to do it as evry one says, I have scheduled mine every 45 days,Thanks.

John