I just moved into a house that was built 100 years ago. When I first moved in the tub water ran brown. I ran the water for 15 minutes and it cleared up (hot water). It seemed to be fine for a while. I wanted to take a bath last night and when I returned to the full tub it was brown brown. Yucky. Is it the pipes? The water heater? Hum... How do I determine where it is coming from and how to fix it.

Until some real plumber responds, you might try this. Take a look at your water heater. There should be a faucet toward the bottom of the tank. It looks a bit like an outdoor water faucet. Connect a hose to it and run the hose outside or to some place for the water to drain. Turn on the faucet and look at the color of the water. From what you said, it will likely be pretty brown. Let it run until the water is clear.

What might be going on is that rust and impurities in the tank, pipes and from the supplier collect in the bottom of the hot water heater tank. They build up over time, but sit on the bottom of the tank until there is some heavy use. If you drain the tank, you are taking the water directly from the sludge and you might be able to get it out.

On the other hand, if the water runs clear out of the hot water heater faucet, the problem is probably in the pipes.

Do you know much about the house for example are the pipes galvanized and how old is the water heater. Galvanized pipes canrust inside themselves, water heaters can build up junk but if the anode rod inside the heater is shot the tank can be rusting. Rodandy's draining the tank is the start of your quest. If the water turns rusty in the next twodays it's the pipes or the tank rusting. Tank replacement is not a killer but new pipes may break the bank. Are you on city or well water and is there a whole ghouse filter on the incoming water?

I just bought the house and it was built in 1900. I am sure that the pipes are old. The water heater is about 5 years old. I took a shower yesterday and the water was not brown? Hum. It seems like if the water sits in the tank it turns brown. Does this mean it's the water heater

Thanks for the advice on how to test the water heater. I have an inkling that is what it is. I have tennants that live above and bellow me. The unit I am in has been vacant for a couple of months before I bought the house. So perhaps it's icky sludge at the bottom of the water heater.

Sludge in a heater isn't brown but rust will look brown. I doubt that the liner pf the heater would be gone in 5 years but its not impossible. Galvanized pipes can make water brown and once that's happening there isn't much you can do short of replacing the piping.

Let's start by getting that "icky sludge at the bottom of the water heater" out of there. 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 togather 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

This really gave me understanding