What Would Rusty Discoloration in My Hot Water Mean?
Discoloration in your water is not a good sign under any circumstances. Brown or perhaps red-water coming out of your taps means that there’s rust present somewhere in your plumbing. Where that rust is located will figure out how much trouble your system is in and what types of repairs will be needed. If you are only experiencing discolored water when you switch on the hot water, then it’s a good bet that the problem is in your hot water heater. Let’s take a look at the primary reasons your water heater would be rusting, both tank and tankless.
Storage Tank Water Heaters
Storage tank water heaters are in reality very susceptible to rust, because of their constant storage of large amounts of water. A lot of water heaters have a lining within the inside of the tank, usually made of glass, to fend off rust. Yet, even that lining will finally develop cracks and permit rust to start eating away at the tank itself. This is definitely a huge problem, as a rusted out water tank can drip and eventually rupture, causing huge amounts of water damage to the surrounding area. In an effort to address this weakness to rust, all water heaters get one or more sacrificial anode rods.
A sacrificial anode pole is a lengthy metal pole that is placed into the water heater container. This pole actually appeals to corrosion to itself, sparing the remainder tank. For this reason the “sacrificial” component of its title. Unfortunately, the anode pole will eventually become therefore corroded that it could not any longer do its work. That’s as soon as the remainder of this container begins rusting. If you catch corrosion in your water, you should call a professional to look at your water heater. Based on exactly how advanced the corrosion is, you might need to just change the anode pole.
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters don’t have to worry about rust resulting from storing large volumes of water. Unfortunately, they still need water flowing through them all the time, and can still rust. If your tankless water heater develops rust, it will most likely get on the heat exchanger. When this happens, the only solution is usually to replenish the entire water heater. But, you will have a expert take a look at your water heater before making any decisions.