Water in your home is supposed to be transparent, odourless and tasteless. But sometimes, rust in water could become a problem. Although not serious, rusty water will eventually lead to streaky toilets and could point to an underlying issue that needs your attention. 

To resolve rusty water issues, start by identifying the source of the problem. Do a physical inspection of your home plumbing system. It also helps to have a quick chat with your neighbours to see if anyone else has the same concerns. If your neighbours don’t have the same problem – it’s best to get a professional plumber in your area to have a look and find the cause if the problem is ongoing.  

And while you wait for your plumber to arrive, here are a couple of things that might be useful to know. 

RUSTY WATER IS NOT A HEALTH RISK.

Firstly, rusty water does not pose a threat to your or your family’s health. The water in your home turns rusty when minerals like iron and manganese contaminate it. These minerals are classified as secondary contaminants and are often not considered harmful to human health. 

So yes, rusty-looking water tastes weird, smells bad and looks awful. And we would not recommend drinking it. But for your normal household needs, rusty water is useable until the underlying issue can be solved. But if you can, avoid doing the laundry – rusty water can possibly stain your whites.  

REASONS WHY TAP WATER TURNS RUSTY

Rust typically forms when iron reacts with oxygen and forms iron oxide. When water flows over rusted surfaces, some of these rust particles break free to join the flow. This discolours the water and stains white surfaces. 

Three common factors usually cause rusty water in households. These are:

FAULTY GEYSER

If rusty-looking water flows from your hot water taps only, it’s probably your geyser. It’s pretty common for geyser tanks to accumulate sediments and rust. And once you have a rust issue in your geyser, it will only get worse over time. Therefore, if you suspect that your geyser is worn down, ask our experts plumbers to check it out before the geyser bursts. Read this article about common geyser problems and how to avoid them. 

RUSTING METAL WATER PIPES

Some homes, especially older ones, still have galvanized steel plumbing. It is common for these pipes to rust and to lead to water discoloration. 

If rust-colored water flows through only certain taps in your home, it could be because the adjoining pipeline has rusted. So now you know where the rusty pipes are.  If one section of your plumbing has rusted, it can soon corrode, leak, and become a flood risk. 

Have a look at this article for more information. And if they have, reach out to a plumber and get your pipelines inspected. 

CONTAMINATION FROM THE MAINS

Most houses get their water supply from a central municipal source. If you have rusty water flowing from all or most of your taps at home, it could be because the mainline has rusted or the reservoir is contaminated. Your local water supplier could also be doing maintenance on the pipes. 

So as mentioned, check with your neighbour or on your local social media community groups whether anyone else in your area has the same problems. If not, your problem is probably localised to you home. So yip, in that case you’ll have to give the expert plumbers at Drain Surgeon a call. They will be able to pinpoint exactly where the rust is coming from, and develop a tailored action plan to ensure you avoid significant problems in the future. 

WHY DEAL WITH DRAIN SURGEON

With many companies offering the same service, what makes Drain Surgeon different? Well in a nutshell, it’s our service attitude. Our whole operation is geared toward providing a first-class service, with efficiency, dependability, and customer satisfaction our utmost concerns.

We offer all general and specialised plumbing services, 24/7. 

• We only contract security-screened plumbers and electricians, so you are safe when we work on your premises. 
• We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Your call will always be answered by our helpful staff – never an answering machine.
• You do not pay extra for services outside office hours.
• We keep you informed throughout the process.
• Our technicians will always be professional, highly competent and wear our recognisable uniform.
• The Drain Surgeon vehicles carry all the equipment to complete most jobs immediately.
• We leave all work areas clean and tidy.
• We always aim to solve your problem quickly and professionally.