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    nassaulynn's Avatar
    nassaulynn Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Apr 11, 2010, 11:30 AM
    Hot water is brown! Help!
    Hot water is brown. Help!
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Apr 11, 2010, 02:23 PM

    Is it only when you open water in your tub ? Is water running brown continuously ? Hot water only ? How old is your hot water heater ? Any work being done on your house in recent days ? Please, respond... Back to you... Milo
    truck 41's Avatar
    truck 41 Posts: 221, Reputation: 21
    Full Member
    		  
    #3

    Apr 11, 2010, 04:57 PM

    Answer milos question, also is it just in one area, or throughout the house?
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #4

    Apr 12, 2010, 05:40 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by nassaulynn View Post
    Hot water is brown. Help!
    This indicates a mineral build up( Iron Oxide, Rust) in your water heater.
    The solution would be to flush the heater out on a regular maintenance schedule. 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 and thank you for rating my answer, Tom
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