Rust Problems? You May Need a Plumber

I received an email from a customer fed up with rust in her water. Her water will run clear for a few minutes, but soon turns to rust. She wanted to know if she can correct herself or if she should call a plumber Philadelphia, DC and other areas may experience rust in their water if it is present in the water source, but there are steps you can take to protect your residential plumbing.

Iron exists in the water in its natural state. When water passes through layers of rock, it picks up minerals and carries them to the water supply. Cities do not remove iron from the water because it is not harmful for you to drink. If you are on well water, however, use an iron filter as iron can be harmful to fixtures in your house and will cause discoloration.

If iron is not natural to your water supply, then the iron is coming from your pipes. You probably have galvanized steel pipes in your home. After years of use, the galvanic coating that prevents iron and rusting begins to flake off exposing the black iron piping. Every time water sits in metal pipes, the oxygen in the water mixes with the iron and turns it into iron oxide (rust). When you turn on your water, the rust washes out of the pipes into your fixtures.

You have two options which will require professional help from plumbing contractors:
• Replace the water pipes with plastic or copper
• Reline the pipes with epoxy coating.

The relining technique requires very little disruption to your home and saves on the restoration costs associated with pipe replacement.

Roto-Rooter provides 24 hour plumbing service and can assist with your large and small plumbing problems.