So you turn on your faucet for a refreshing glass of water and after your first sip, you realize the water tastes metallic. Upon further inspection, you see small orange particles floating in your glass. What is it? In most cases it’s rust. And while it’s an annoyance and something that needs to be addressed, fortunately, it’s not harmful to most people. The only exception would be for people who have hemochromatosis, which allows the body to accumulate excessive iron levels.
Rust can truly happen to anyone, depending on the age of your pipes and water heater, as well as your local water supply system. And while some people may go a lifetime and never deal with rust in their water supply, others will face this challenge. So what should you do if you think you have rust in your water supply? Find its location.
The potential source of rust is one of three locations: Your pipes, your hot water heater or your local water supply system. To help identify the location, you can run your own test. First, turn on the cold tap and fill a glass of water. Second, turn on the hot water tap and take a second sample. And lastly, let the tap water run for a few minutes and take a third sample.
If you see rust in either the cold tap or the hot water tap, then the problem is potentially in your home’s water system. The cold tap would signal rust in your piping, while the hot water tap would point to the hot water heater. However, if the rust is in all three samples, then the source may be your local water supply system.
Regardless of where the rust is, to identify the exact location you’ll need a professional plumber to help you. Once you’ve found the culprit, the only solution is to replace materials in question to get you on your way to rust-free water again.
Have more questions? Call us—we’d love to help! Call the professionals at Go Green Plumbing at 336-252-2999 for service 7 days a week/24 hours a day. If water runs through it – We Do It!