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    frazwood's Avatar
    frazwood Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
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    #1

    Jun 22, 2008, 06:23 AM
    Occasionally brown tap water
    The house that I own was built in 1968 and it has city water. I've been installing a new bathroom and doing various other plumbing projects since early March. As such, I've hardly used any water since then.

    I now have much of the plumbing work done and we're starting to use the water. The water now occasionally runs brown. I figure that I just need to flush out the system by running water all over the place... but...

    Because it's always worth asking, are there any other tricks that I should try?

    Thanks!

    Tim
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jun 22, 2008, 07:45 AM
    You probably hve some old galvanized pipes somewhere in the house mixed with your new stuff. Go to the faucet furthest from the main, open and run for sveral minutes. Now work your way back toward the main opening/closing each fixture.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #3

    Jun 22, 2008, 03:53 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by frazwood
    The house that I own was built in 1968 and it has city water. I've been installing a new bathroom and doing various other plumbing projects since early March. As such, I've hardly used any water since then.

    I now have much of the plumbing work done and we're starting to use the water. The water now occasionally runs brown. I figure that I just need to flush out the system by running water all over the place.... but...

    Because it's always worth asking, are there any other tricks that I should try?

    Thanks!

    Tim
    Hey Tim,
    Is it the hot, cold or both that runs brown? As a rule brow water is caused by iron oxide,(rust) in the water. Harold was bang on to target old galvanized pipes. This would affect both hot and cold water. However, if it's only the hot water that's affected it could come from mineral buildup in your water heater. Do you flush your heater every monthto maintain it? If not let me show you how.
    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. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. Hope this helps, Tom
    frazwood's Avatar
    frazwood Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
    Junior Member
    		  
    #4

    Jun 23, 2008, 05:37 AM
    Hi Tom:

    I far as I can see (and I can see a lot)... there are no galvanized supply lines in the entire house. Perhaps the supply line to the house is galvanized?

    It is certainly not the hot water heater... that is very new (March 2008).

    Even so, thanks for the flushing instructions... I will certainly do that!

    Regards,
    Tim

    Edit: The brown occurs in both the hot and cold.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Jun 23, 2008, 05:47 AM
    Perhaps the supply line to the house is galvanized?
    You can check it out at the water meter. Older homes use galvanized while younger homes use PVC. Let me know. Tom
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #6

    Jun 23, 2008, 01:03 PM
    Hey Tom, is Harold my new nickname?? LOL got cha Bob
    frazwood's Avatar
    frazwood Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
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    #7

    Jun 25, 2008, 04:50 AM
    Yep, it's galvanized at the water meter.

    Back to my original question: are there any tricks to eliminate this?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #8

    Jun 25, 2008, 05:00 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1
    Hey Tom, is Harold my new nickname??? LOL got cha Bob
    Only if you're a Left Handed Widget Maker!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #9

    Jun 25, 2008, 05:03 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by frazwood
    Yep, it's galvanized at the water meter.
    Back to my original question: are there any tricks to eliminate this?
    Yeah! But you're not going to like it. Remove the old galvanized water service and replace it with 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC. Good luck, Tom
    frazwood's Avatar
    frazwood Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
    Junior Member
    		  
    #10

    Jun 25, 2008, 08:05 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1
    Yeah! But you're not gonna like it. Remove the old galvanized water service and replace it with 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC. Good luck, Tom
    Thanks for the info. I'm just going to have to learn to live with disappointment.

    :)
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