What Causes Brown Hot Water & How to Fix It

What Causes Brown Water from Hot Water Heaters?

Several factors might cause brown tap water from hot water heaters:

• Sediment Buildup - Over time, sediment from pipes can accumulate at the bottom of the water heater tank, sometimes manifesting as black specks affecting water quality. A comprehensive flush may dislodge sediment, releasing particles that can tinge your hot water brown.
• Rusting pipes can contribute to buildup within your water heater tank, potentially discolouring your water supply and impacting its quality.
• Mineral Deposits - Deposits of minerals such as iron and manganese can bleed into your water causing discoloration, as they form brown residues inside the tank and your pipes.

When agitated, these elements mix and may contaminate the water in your heater, sometimes leading to discoloured water from your tap. The unaffected clarity of the cold water tap suggests that the issue is isolated to the hot water system, which is generally still safe for drinking.

To avert brown water, regularly flush your water heater to remove sediment. However, if the problem persists after flushing, failing to turn the brown water hot to clear, or if the discolouration remains, it’s wise to contact your local plumber for an inspection of your pipes and hot water system.

Is Brown Hot Water Harmful? Health and Safety Concerns

Brown water coming out from hot taps is generally not a health hazard and is considered safe for drinking by most individuals. While the discoloured water may be off-putting, it tends to keep the drinking water from your tap safe for consumption and culinary uses in most cases.

A glass water that fills with brown water from the system isn’t typically a threat to safety, so it’s normally safe to drink despite sediment, mineral deposits, or rust buildup within the water infrastructure. Substances such iron and manganese can build up and cause brown discolouration of the water, they typically don’t make the water unsafe to drink at the concentrations generally found in residential water supplies.

If your brown tap water emits strange odours or has an odd taste, it warrants concern; in such cases, it’s prudent to avoid consuming it as a precaution. Discolored hot water could potentially harbour bacteria in rare cases if there are issues with the water main lines or contamination further up the supply chain.

If you’re wondering why your tap water remains persistently brown, our licensed plumbers are on hand to inspect your heater and pipes. They can diagnose the issue wherein problem your water heater faces can be isolated and risk can be ruled out. It’s best to refrain from using the brownish water until the plumbing system has been completely purged and the water clarity is restored.

While traces of particles in your hot water might be harmless, substantial amounts could pose a risk to some individuals. Seek medical advice if you experience symptoms after consuming dirty tap water over an extended period.

In conclusion, brown hot water typically does not present a substantial health risk. Nonetheless, ongoing issues or atypical smells and tastes should lead to a professional inspection.

How to Identify the Source of Brown Water Issues

Identifying the cause of brown, murky water starts with a methodical assessment of key tap locations:

• The hot water taps - Check if brown water comes out of all hot taps or only certain ones. This helps pin down if the issue is inside your hot water system specifically.
• The cold water taps - Check your kitchen, bathroom and laundry cold taps. Discoloured cold hot water from taps points to sediment or rust buildup in your home’s water mains.
• The outside garden taps - Run the garden tap to check the colour entering from your main water supply.
• Neighbours - Ask your neighbours if they have the same problem with brown water from their taps. Shared issues may indicate a temporary problem or disruption with the municipal water supply lines in your area.

Examining the location, timing, and severity of discolouration in your hot water supply can offer valuable insights into the contamination source:

• Brown water flowing solely from hot taps usually signals internal problems in the hot water system.
• Brown water from all taps potentially indicates sediment or rust in the pipes, or issues with the main water lines.
• Brown water taps only in one section of your home - Indicates supply line issues closest to those taps.
• Intense discoloration after periods of no use suggests rust or deposits might be dislodging internally.

If brown water persists despite running multiple taps, enlist professional plumbing services to assess your home’s water supply lines, heater, and pipes.

Troubleshooting Tips to Clear Up Brown Hot Water

Facing brown or discoloured hot water, consider these troubleshooting steps before calling a licensed plumber:

Flush the Water Heater

Flushing the water heater tank is a proven method to eliminate the sediment causing brown water. Initially, turn off the heat source and water supply to the tank. Subsequently, attach a hose to the drain valve at the tank’s base and open it, allowing the water to flush through for a few minutes.

Run Hot Water Taps

Run your hot tap, including shower, kitchen, and laundry taps, for 5-10 minutes to potentially solve the tap water problem caused by minerals. Check if the water runs clearer after.

Isolate Source

Should brown water remain, methodically check if the discolouration is limited to specific taps in your property, be it hot or cold water fixtures. This can help narrow down if there’s an issue with your hot water system only or with the main water lines.

Check Cold Water Clarity

Check your cold water tap to determine if the discoloration is exclusive to hot water or also present in the main supply. Brown water from cold taps points to potential corrosion and sediment issues in your home’s water lines.

Contact a Professional

If you’ve tried flushing your water heater, running taps, and isolating the issue source with no improvement, contact a licenced plumber to inspect your hot water system. They can properly diagnose and resolve persistent sediment, corrosion and water quality issues.

When Should I Contact a Professional Plumber?

There are a few situations when it’s advisable to contact a professional plumber to address brown or discoloured hot water:

• You’ve tried flushing your water heater, running taps, and isolating the issue but the brown water persists
• Unusual tastes or odours accompany the brown water

The proficient team at Colyton Plumbing can pinpoint the underlying issue. We provide comprehensive hot water system repairs and maintenance:

• Tank and pipe flushing to remove sediment
• Pipe inspection for leaks and corrosion
• Water heater replacements
• Water treatment solutions

For ongoing brown water concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us or send an email. Our fully licenced and insured plumbers are ready to help restore the water flowing smoothly and clarity to your water system.

Long-Term Solutions: Replacing Pipes and Water Heaters

For ongoing issues with brown or discoloured water, replacing parts of your plumbing infrastructure can provide more permanent solutions.

Pipe Replacements

If brown water coming through your pipes is being caused by old galvanised materials or internal rust and corrosion, we recommend action to replace problematic pipes to help restore water clarity. We recommend:

• Replacing any visibly corroded pipes
• Upgrading from galvanised to PEX or copper pipes to prevent further rusting

New Water Heater Installation

We recommend replacing an outdated or worn storage or tankless water heater to resolve discolouration issues permanently. We offer:

• Inspections to evaluate if your current heater needs replacement
• Professional installation of new energy-efficient tank or tankless water heater models
• Whole-home piping upgrades tailored to match your new system

While regular draining and anode rod replacements can prolong your current heater’s lifespan, replacements are inevitable over time. Upgrading old pipes and heaters prevents ongoing sediment, rust and water clarity problems.

Our licenced plumbers at Colyton Plumbing provide complete solutions from inspections and custom quotes to full installations. Contact us or email to discuss your options.

Improving Overall Water Quality With Filters

Installing a whole-house water filtration system can help prevent discoloured brown water by filtering out contaminants before they reach your taps.

Filtration systems, using materials like activated carbon, resin, and oxidising minerals in filters, trap sediments and metals, improving your tap water quality. Over time, this helps minimise scale buildup and corrosion issues within your plumbing infrastructure.

Specific filter types include:

• Sediment filters - Catching loose sediment that can cause water discoloration and trap rust particles
• Carbon block filters - Absorb chlorine and chemicals
• Iron manganese removal filters - Specifically designed to target both iron and manganese deposits

Filter systems need consistent maintenance, but they enhance clarity by curbing mineral buildup and treating water before it circulates through your plumbing system, promoting a clearer flow. Contact a professional plumber to assess your situation and recommend the right filtration and conditioning solutions to restore and maintain water quality long-term.