Rust in water- help

[Split Arrow]

My wife and I just bought a house a moved in yesterday. The water was fine all day yesterday, and all day today. I took a shower a little while ago and noticed that the shower water was very very rusty. We started going from faucet to faucet around the house and now all the water is rusty... The water was perfectly fine a few hours ago. I have no experience with this- can any of you help with these questions?

A- What causes this?
B- Should I be concerned?
C- How can i fix it?

Thanks!

[Nate Riley]

Are you on a water well or public system? Does it do it when only the cold water is on (for a few minutes)?

[gator89]

It's just some iron in the water. I don't think it's bad for anything, if it continues it could result in some staining I'm sure but short term no problemo. Ours happens when the water company is working on something.

[TXBlkCld]

All important questions ^^^^^

[Split Arrow]

It's public water in The Woodlands- MUD 19. We've only noticed it within the last hour, and it seems to be whenever the water is running- regardless of if it's hot or cold water. It's not just a little bit rusty- It's very stained- almost the color of tea. I took a shower and was in there about five-eight minutes and it never got any better. There are also little bits of something in along with the water.

Thanks for the replies!

[b.a.saha]

They probably shut down a section for some reason then opened the line back up. See it happen here from time to time. It will clear up.

[kingranch]

i had this happen to me in pearland
.. my problem and solution...drain your water heater and refill it, they broke a line and the incoming water was stained and until i got it out of my tank it was dark.

Otherwise could be a rusty pipe.. but i would think not if its in all the faucets.

[Sackett]

They probably shut down a section for some reason then opened the line back up. See it happen here from time to time. It will clear up.

This^ Open up the faucet furthest from your water inlet to the house and let it run for 20 min. Then, run other faucets and it should clear up within a couple min.

[Sackett]

They probably shut down a section for some reason then opened the line back up. See it happen here from time to time. It will clear up.

This^ Open up the faucet furthest from your water inlet to the house and let it run for 20 min. Then, run other faucets and it should clear up within a couple min.

One other question. Before you purchased the home, was it vacant for any period of time?

[Kodiakk]

Ours happens when the water company is working on something.

Bingo.

[Texas Stalker]

In my experience when I turn off a water heater to do any work on the plumbing or if the water line is being worked on somewhere by the water dept its rusty when turned back on. Also sometimes when a water heater is older it'll start to rust out inside. You may check the build date on it. If its old I'd replace it.

[Split Arrow]

It seemed better this morning except for the hot water, which makes sense. I'll try to drain down the hot water and hopefully things will clear up.

Thanks for all the insight!

[holdem]

Happens here every few months. Problem is the stuff stops up my refrigerator filter and those things aren't cheap. Wonder what the water company would do if I sent them a bill for filters ??

[TXBlkCld]

In my experience when I turn off a water heater to do any work on the plumbing or if the water line is being worked on somewhere by the water dept its rusty when turned back on. Also sometimes when a water heater is older it'll start to rust out inside. You may check the build date on it. If its old I'd replace it.

Exactly. ^^^