[gbwillner]

Hi. I've read similar posts but my problem seems somewhat unique, and I'd appreciate any feedback.

About 3 months ago I renovated my shower, which included some plumbing work. I did place a new galvanized steel pipe from a new shower valve to the new faucet. All the other new pipe I used was the fancy black-coated kind. Before sealing all the pipe into the wall I made sure there were no leaks (I could find). I did notice a small amount of brown sedimentation when I turned the water on, but I figured this was due to air in the pipes. I then finished the wall, and began to use the bath.
I immediately noticed that brown water came out of the faucet when I turned on the cold water, and that it contained rust particles. I figured this was due to the new galvanized steel pipe or the new shower valve, and that it should go away over time.

Well, now it's been three months and the rust is still coming out and staining my tub. The rust only comes out for a second or two, but there is enough there to stain the tub orange. I am wondering if I did something wrong with the pipes, of the rust will ever go away, or if there is air somehow getting into the pipe... although there are no leaks noticeable downstairs...

Thanks!

[ballengerb1]

Your new pipe and shower valve would not cause this problem but tell me more about this fancy black pipe. Most black pipe is for gas and is not galvanized. When you run the cold how long before the water runs clear? If you shut the cold off and then reopen it in a few minutes is it still clear? You could have disturbed some old sediment when doing your work but that should have been flushed out by now.

[gbwillner]

Your new pipe and shower valve would not cause this problem but tell me more about this fancy black pipe. Most black pipe is for gas and is not galvanized. When you run the cold how long before the water runs clear? If you shut the cold off and then reopen it in a few minutes is it still clear? You could have disturbed some old sediment when doing your work but that should have been flushed out by now.

Thanks for the quick response...

The black pipe is the same size and shape as the galvanized steel water pipe but is not supposed to rust. It was in the same location at the hardware store.

The water runs clear after 3-4 seconds, depending on how slowly I turn on the faucet. The bath gets used almost daily. If I use the faucet twice within a day, there is not very much sediment. But it does add up over time. So yeah, if I shut it off after a few minutes and then back on it is clear.