Also known as iron oxide, rust is a coating that forms on iron or steel. It has the potential to get into your water through piping, and—while it doesn’t pose a health hazard—it can cause pipe blockages, produce metallic-tasting water, and leave stains on your clothes and dishes. Depending on the level of rust, your water could appear yellow, orange, red, or brown. Here, Joe Klosterman Plumbing of Cincinnati, OH, provides plumbing repair tips to follow if you discover rust in your water.

What to Do If You Discover Rust in Your Water

Test to Find the Origin

If you notice rust in your water, you need to find out where it is coming from. Run an outside tap into a clean cup or a bucket to look for signs of rust. If you find rust particles, or if it’s discolored, the problem is likely within the water mains and beyond your control. If it’s clear, there’s a problem with your residential plumbing.

Contact Water Supplier

Informing your water supplier about the problem will allow them to perform maintenance and ensure no additional rust forms. Due to the impact rust can have on your everyday life—such as when washing clothes and dishes—you don’t want these problems to creep back up in the future. If your water supplier is aware of the problem, they will make sure it doesn’t.

Contact a Professional Plumber

Having seen this problem before, a professional plumber can easily identify the source of the rust and help fix it. Depending on how long it has existed, there may already be pipe damage, which could cause leaks or other costly issues. A professional can perform plumbing repair tasks and root out small problems before they become significant.

Flush Taps

While you contact a plumber and your water supplier for assistance, flush the taps in your home. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it is a temporary measure that will prevent the problem from getting worse before it can be fixed.

Rust in your water supply can disrupt your daily routine and corrode your plumbing system. Luckily, addressing the problem as soon as possible will limit the damage it causes. Joe Klosterman Plumbing has been providing plumbing repair for the Tri-State area since 1983 and can help with all your plumbing needs. For more information, call (513) 941-6766 or visit their website.