 
Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by: 
|
|
Author:
rrobe021 (VA)
I have a three month old Bradford White electric hot water heater, and brownish orange water comes out only when any of the three tubs are filling with hot water. It also has a metallic smell. This is a new house with vinyl tubing for the house distribution system. Cold water is clear and smells fine and tees off just before the heater. My assumption then, is that its the water heater. I drained and flushed for 20 minutes. Ran a tub and after 15 minutes, water became brown again. Can anyone tell me why? Every tee or valve is brass that I can visually inspect, anyway.
Thanks.
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
There is a galvanized pipe or fitting somewhere. It might even be in the tub faucets.
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
rrobe021 (VA)
The fixtures are definitely a "brushed nickel". I forgot to mention that I am on a well. We used to have a problem with iron bacteria until I shocked the well with sodium hypochlorite. The cold water is now clear and no smell, but nothing has changed the hot water which has a strong metallic odor. Perhaps the inside of the fixtures are galvanized metal?
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
m & m (MD)
Explain your 'flush' procedure.
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
rrobe021 (VA)
I turned off the breaker, closed the intake valve, hooked up a hose to the bottom drain valve, drained it outside, after about a half hour, I noticed nothing more was coming out and I rocked the tank a bit and opened the intake and let it flush for about a half hour while rocking the tank gently. I then closed the drain valve. Let it continue to fill and went back to the breaker and turned it back on. About 15 minutes later I opened the faucet and pale orange water started coming out again. I repeated the process again. Still have brown and orange water coming out of only the hot water heater. Smells metallic. Cold water still looks great and smells almost odorless. It's the same for all tubs, showers and faucets: hot is always orangish-brown and cold is clear.
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
m & m (MD)
When flushing, always leave the cold water inlet valve open and fully open the drain valve. If the water is still discolored after flushing and only on hot, you need to continue to flush until you get clear water. May take multiple flushings but keep at it.
|
|
Post Reply
|
|
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
NO! Something else is causing the coloration.
|
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|