Blog

Fuse Box vs Circuit Breaker

Electrical Services

April 9, 2021

A fuse box or circuit breaker is the center of your home’s electrical system. It diverts the electricity from your utility company to all parts of your home. It also provides protection from overload, short circuit or ground fault by turning off the power when wires become too hot. Most homes use circuit breakers. You […]

Read More

What You Should Know About Pinhole Leak in Copper Pipe

Plumbing

March 1, 2021

Modern copper pipes should last for 20 years or more. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen, thanks to a particularly pernicious plumbing problem known as pinhole leaking. Pinhole leaks only occur in copper pipe. Under the right (worst) conditions, copper pipe may develop pinhole leaks within only two years of installation. Pinhole leak in copper pipe […]

Read More

Why Am I Running Out of Hot Water?

Water Services

January 15, 2021

There are all kinds of reasons why your water heater isn’t producing enough hot water. It could be too small, the settings may be wrong, or there could be a more serious problem. Sediment buildup, broken dip tubes or heating elements, and leaks can all steal your hot water away. By determining exactly how you’re […]

Read More

Is My Garbage Disposal Leaking?

Plumbing

August 28, 2020

Garbage disposals usually leak from three places: the top, the pipe connections, and the bottom. To find out if your disposal is leaking, check each common place where leaks start. Use a flashlight to check for condensation, puddling, and other signs of water accumulation on or beneath your disposal. Each common garbage disposal leak happens […]

Read More

How Does Pipe Leak Tape Work?

Plumbing

July 31, 2020

You can use different kinds of tape to solve different plumbing leak problems. Use pipe thread tape, sometimes called “Teflon” or “Plumber’s” pipe, to fix leaking pipe joints. Use silicone, sometimes called “self-amalgamating,” “self-fusing,” or “leak repair” tape, to fix hairline cracks or other non-joint pipe leaks. Tape has a surprisingly broad number of applications […]

Read More

How to Fix a Running Toilet Without Leaving Home

Plumbing

July 16, 2020

You have a running toilet for one of two reasons: Either water is leaking from the tank into the bowl, or the fill tube is refilling too much water into the tank, activating its overflow tube. You should be able to stop either problem quickly by adjusting the flapper, float, or tubes. Running toilets tend […]

Read More

How to Clean Hair Out of a Drain

Drain Cleaning

June 30, 2020

Even if you use a drain stopper, enough hair could eventually slip into your drain to slow it down. To get your drain flowing again properly, either break up hair clumps enough that they’ll pass through the drain or pull all the hair out of the drain manually. If your shower, tub, or bathroom drains […]

Read More

What To Do When Your AC Unit Won’t Turn On

HVAC

June 15, 2020

To troubleshoot the reason your AC unit won’t turn on, start by making sure its circuit hasn’t tripped. Next, make sure your thermostat is functioning properly. If it is, then go outside to check the condensate pump and the electrical connections. Finally, try testing the unit’s dual run capacitor. Once you’ve figured out why your […]

Read More

Why does my shower drain smell?

Drain Cleaning

May 30, 2020

Shower drains can start to smell for several common reasons. Mold or mildew might be growing beneath your drain cover. Your p-trap could be malfunctioning, allowing sewer gas to rise up through your pipes. Or there could simply be hair or grime stuck in your shower drain strainer. Luckily, most of the reasons your shower […]

Read More

How to Unclog a Bathtub

Drain Cleaning

May 16, 2020

The most effective way to unclog a bathtub drain is to use a cup plunger to force the blockage out. Remove your tub’s strainer and stopper, fill the tub with a few inches of water, and plunge forcefully and continuously until the blockage comes up out of the drain. There are several effective means of […]

Read More

You just woke up and you’re about to brush your teeth. You stick your brush under the tap, turn the water on, and… a stream of brown, cloudy mush drizzles out.  Rust colored water isn’t normally harmful but it can be disturbing.  The causes can range from corroded pipes to mineral build up to utility company operations.

Seeing your home’s tap water turn rusty is a traumatizing experience, especially if you don’t know why it’s happening. That’s why we put together this primer to explain why your water is rusty looking. If the reason for your home water discoloration is rusty pipes, we’ll explain what you can do about it. We want all Los Angeles residents to have clean, safe drinking water in their homes.

What Makes Water Brown?

Tap water looks rusty brown, yellowish, or reddish when it contains an excess of sediment or minerals.

The most common discoloring minerals present in water are iron and manganese. Tiny metallic deposits of these minerals can get into the water stream via several different sources – natural or manmade. These minerals can also be responsible for any unpleasant tastes or smells your water might have.

Is Rusty Water Dangerous?

It depends on the particular minerals in your water, but probably not. The EPA regulates the treatment of drinking water contaminants according to primary and secondary standards. Dangerous contaminants like lead and arsenic are covered by the primary regulations. If these contaminants exceed a maximum contaminant level in a water supply, it (usually) isn’t supplied to the public.

The secondary EPA regulations cover contaminants like iron and manganese. These contaminants aren’t dangerous to health but taste, smell, or look bad and could stain clothing or cause skin rashes. Public water systems are compelled to test for primary contaminants on a regular basis but testing for secondary contaminants is unfortunately voluntary. Rusty water might be gross and inconvenient, but it’s not actually dangerous to drink or bathe in.

Why Is My Water Brown?

Any of the following symptoms could cause brown water from the faucets in your home. Diagnose your water problem using these three common scenarios:

If all your hot and cold water suddenly goes brown:

It may be the result of a nearby break in a city-operated water main or fire hydrant. Much of America’s plumbing infrastructure is outdated, so water main breaks that release sediment into the water supply happen frequently.

It’s also possible that either your water heater or your water supply pipes have become rusty or corroded, and you’re just now starting to see the effects.

If only your hot water is discolored:

Sediment or rust may have built up in your water heater’s tank.

If you get brown water from your cold tap and only certain faucets:

The problem is probably with a particular water supply pipe.

How To Fix Reddish Brown Water

Now that you have an idea of what caused your rusty water discoloration in the first place, you know where to start:

If all your hot and cold water suddenly goes brown:

Call your water supply company. Chances are, something happened to a water main or a nearby fire hydrant. It’s also possible that the city is conducting maintenance on the pipe system, and they inadvertently stirred up some sediment. They should be able to tell you when your water will clear up again and what they’re doing to fix the problem.

Once the utility work is done, run your taps for a few minutes until you no longer see orange water coming out of your faucets. Brown water in toilets should disappear after a couple of flushes refresh the water supply.

If all your hot water is discolored:

Try draining and flushing your water heater’s tank. Rusty hot water is often the result of sediment that’s built up over time. It’s a good idea to drain and flush your tank twice a year. Sediment buildup isn’t just bad for your water; it’s one of the most common causes of water heater leaks.

If you flush the tank or have a newer water heater and your hot water is still off-colored, you may have a more significant problem. Call a professional plumber to diagnose the issue. Too much sediment buildup could permanently damage your water heater, or (in rare and extreme circumstances) cause it to explode!

If your cold water is only discolored when it comes out of a few faucets:

Start by running those faucets at full pressure for about several minutes or until the water clears completely. Sometimes, a small amount of rust may dislodge from the inner walls of a pipe and enter the water supply. If the problem is that minor, simply running the water should clean out the rust and clear the water again.

If your water still looks rusty after running it, however, or if the problem returns shortly after you flush the rust, it may be because your pipes have corroded. When too much corrosion or rust builds up on the pipe walls of your home’s water supply pipes, then minerals will leach into your water constantly, and you will continue to have brown water from your cold tap.

If you have a corroded or rusted pipe, you should have it deep cleaned or replaced ASAP, before it causes even more serious problems.  Corroded pipes can lead to clogs and possible leaks or breaks in your water line.

Get Rid of Brown Rusty Water in Your Home

If you’ve tried everything and remain frustrated by rusty water coming from your tap, remember that Mike Diamond has your back. Give us a call, and we’ll diagnose why your faucets are spewing out that ugly brown stuff and make sure your pipes are transporting clean, clear water to you and your family.

Nobody in Los Angeles should have to shower in–much less drink!–rusty water. We’ll make sure you never have to.

What to Do if Your Tap Has Rusty Water

September 22, 2021

You just woke up and you’re about to brush your teeth. You stick your brush under the tap, turn the water on, and… a stream of brown, cloudy mush drizzles out.  Rust colored water isn’t normally harmful but it can be disturbing.  The causes can range from corroded pipes to mineral build up to utility company … [Read more...]

How to Fix a Loose Toilet Handle

September 9, 2021

A loose or wiggly toilet handle can be annoying. A toilet handle not flushing at all is even worse. Luckily, a loose toilet handle is a minor toilet problem and one that’s usually easy to fix. Here’s how you can fix a broken toilet handle, either by tightening or replacing it. How to Tighten a Toilet … [Read more...]

How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink

August 9, 2021

The best method to unclog a clogged bathroom sink may depend on what’s clogging it. You can flush soap scum clogs with vinegar and baking soda or tweeze hair. For bigger clogs, a plunger or drain snake work best.  Figuring out why your drain is clogged is the best way to figure out how to unclog it. Below are … [Read more...]

How to Clean Mold in Showers

August 3, 2021

There are thousands of types of mold. Mold spores travel through the air around us every day. Once these spores settle, they can reproduce in 24-48 hours. All they need is a moisture and oxygen. Bathrooms and showers provide the perfect breeding ground for mold to grow. Unlike mildew, which forms on surfaces, mold … [Read more...]

Why Power Surges Happen and How to Prevent Them

July 19, 2021

Los Angeles homes have more electronic devices plugged in and drawing power now than ever before. While modern electrical grids can supply power evenly and safely, power surges can result from several causes outside and inside the home. Every homeowner should understand the basics about power surges and how to prevent … [Read more...]

How Does Pipe Corrosion Work?

July 9, 2021

Pipes don’t last forever. Even copper pipes, despite their 50+ year lifespan, develop corrosion over time and in certain conditions. How does pipe corrosion affect your plumbing and your home’s water? And how do you prevent your pipes from corroding? Corrosion affects different types of pipes in different ways. Cast … [Read more...]

How to Unclog a Toilet

June 16, 2021

As the old saying goes - there’s more than one way to unclog a toilet. OK, we just made that up but we’re here to prove it’s true. Sure, we love our plunger, but what if you don’t have one? Have you tried soap or baking soda? Follow our detailed instructions for how to unclog a toilet with a plunger but stick around … [Read more...]

How Air Conditioning Works

June 4, 2021

Before 1902, humans adopted creative ways of staying cool during hot summers. The ancient Egyptians hung wet reed mats in their windows that created a cooling effect when the wind blew through. Ancient Romans went so far as to pump cold water from aqueducts through the walls of elite homes. These days you need only … [Read more...]

How to Fix a Toilet That Won’t Flush

May 4, 2021

Stuck in that awkward plumbing limbo where your toilet won’t flush? Fear not. We’re here to explain the most common reasons your toilet may not be flushing and how you can fix them. If you live in L.A., your local plumbers at Mike Diamond are always ready to help. Your toilet may be clogged (even if you can’t see … [Read more...]

Why Is That Light Bulb Flickering?

April 20, 2021

A flickering light bulb is the electrical equivalent of a dripping faucet. It may not seem like a big deal but soon enough it will start chipping away at your sanity. Before you throw the lamp and the table it was on out the window, let us diagnose the issue. Flickering lights don’t have to be your dim future … [Read more...]