Why is water rusty after pipes are turned off?
Question:My hot water heater broke recently, and after having the pipes turned off so the heater could be replaced, the plumber said the water would be rust for a bit, and just to run the water. Why is it that water comes out rusty after having the pipes shut off??
Answers:
If you have an old house you probably have galvanized pipes. They were cheaper than copper and installed in a lot of houses. Over time the galvanizing is eaten up and the pipe rusts(corrodes) on the inside. Actually the rust is there all the time, it just gets more concentrated if the water is left off for a while. You can run the water for a few minutes and it should clear up.
You have iron in your water. The iron precipitates out inside the pipes as Ferric Oxide which is more commonly called rust. Because it is under water it is not hard but more like a jelly. The water flow in the pipes had been in one direction for a long time and the rust settled in low spots, corners, etc. When you replaced the water heater, the water flow changed and loosened up a lot of the rust. Now the water flow comes back and it moves the rust residue and some comes out of your pipes.
its rust in the tank and the water picks up some of the rust it will clear out after a little while of use
The rust and corrosion dries up when the water is turned off. When turned back on, the dry particles break loose and go through the lines.
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