I recently had a new diverter in my tub. When I turn on the water after an extended period of not using it, the water is a rusty color. It was never like this before. Why would it do that?

Hi Dwhorn

Is the new diverter on the tub spout? If the diverter is on the tub spout then it means that the tub spout was changed and if you never had rusty water I think I know what may have happened to cause the issue. Here, I would suspect that when the tub spout with diverter got changed out the person changing it out needed a longer or a shorter threaded NIPPLE (pipe) to attach the tub spout to the tub/shower valve and purchased and installed a BLACK IRON nipple instead of a BRASS nipple. I only know about this because I have gotten service calls about this after a family member or even a plumber's apprentice made this simple mistake! It should be an easy fix...;) If I am right about the tub spout being changed over then next I would ask you who installed the new tub spout and can you get them back out to fix this??

Otherwise, if this is an actual DIVERTER and it is a separate threaded fitting I again would have to think that the nipple/pipe used is of the wrong material...

Let me know what you think.

Mark