We have this 80 year old house with the 80 year old pipes. We get yellow water upstairs because of like rust? You let the water run and it isn't rust colored after a minute. (We don't drink the water in our house.)

I was thinking of replacing the hot water heater as per plumbers advice and I wonder if else thinks this will solve the problem

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 07:36 am:

Could be either the pipes or the water heater. UGH! Pipes are a MAJOR expense! Hopefully replacing the water heater will help.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 09:18 am:

If you only get the rusty water upstairs, then it doesn't sound to me like the problem is the water heater. If it were, then you'd get rusty water all over. Do you get only rusty hot water? Is the cold rusty, too? It sounds to me like the pipes. Rather than replacing them, maybe there's something they can flush the pipes with to clean them out? I don't know, but it does not hurt to ask.
If running the water for a few minutes helps, then just live with it. Replacing pipe is a nightmare. Just check with a plumber to see if s/he thinks you may have a situation that might spring a leak sometime soon.
We had black pipe for our hot water heating in our old house. All of a sudden, the heat downstairs would just go off. I had the gas company in several times, before one repairman said the system was shutting because it was loosing pressure, there was a leak somewhere.
I had to go nuts until enough water came out that I could pinpoint the area. Luckily it was in a closet, under the floor in a very accessable spot. Of course this was in New York in January, so we were quite cold!
Sorry to go off topic, but just ask if you are at risk for leaks and what you might be able to do about it.
Ame

By Melanie on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 09:22 am:

We had rust colored water coming out of just the master tub faucet ever since we moved here. We replaced the water heater about six months ago and the water has run clear out of that faucet ever since.

By Feona on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 10:19 am:

I think I just see the rusty water because of the bath tub. I am always cleaning the rust color off the tub. The rust color is really all over and I don't see it most times. The only thing that works is a new scrubbing pad. The thin green kind and dawn detergent.