Expert: Sharon Toji - 12/9/2011

Question
Hi there. I have NO idea who to ask about this, So if you dont know this kind of thing could you maybe point me in the right direction of who to ask?

I live in a friends house, I have been here about 2 weeks. I attempted to run a bath for first time since being here (only was having showers) And it was brown water. I dont know if its always been like that And they just didnt notice (since they never take baths only shower.)

It is clear in the morning or at frist when it runs then tiurns dark.
They followed steps they read on the internet to "drain or flush" it but it is much worse now. It is really dark brown now.

We dont know what to do!

Answer
Although you would think that showers would have the same effect, I wonder about corrosion inside either the pipes or the hot water tank, so that rust is coming through.

Maybe the same thing is the case with the shower, but not noticeable either because less water is run, or because it is not collecting.

I would test the shower water by stopping up the drain just as you would for a bath, but then turning on the shower. Let the same amount of water accumulate as you would for a bath, and see if it turns brown. If it does, then I do think that it is the hot water tank or the pipes that are rusting. In that case, you do need a plumber.

If the shower water remains clear, then you do have a puzzle on your hands, since I can't imagine that the water doesn't all come from the same place. But I will bet that the shower water will, when you accumulate enough in the tub, also turn brown eventually.

I am assuming, of course, that your shower runs into the bathtub, and that you don't have two separate things -- a shower and a tub. If you do, and the shower water is clear, then it would probably be the pipes running to the tub that are rusty.

I hope this helps. Let me know! htoji@cox.net

Sharon Toji