Brown water from new shower faucets
Keithtooth
shower. The tub works fine but when I turn the faucet on in the shower after
it has been sitting for a few hours the water runs brown for about 15-30
seconds, then it clears up. The longer it has been sitting the darker the
water.
The shower faucet uses a thermostatic mixer with two volume controls, one for
the shower head and the other for the hand held. The brown water comes from
both connections.
The GC who handled the bathroom remodel originally said that it was due to
sediment in the pipes but I have let the water run for a long time and it still
has the problem. The house is only 12 months old.
Does anyone have any ideas about what could be causing this problem? If it is
sediment in the pipes shouldn't it resolve itself after a few days / weeks? Is
there anything that the plumber could have done wrong to create this problem?
Thank you in advance for any info.
Keith Baines
Speedy Jim
If the problem doesn't clear up, the only thing I can think of is that
the installer used an iron pipe nipple somewhere in the circuit
common to both shower head and handheld. A plain (black) nipple
will rust very rapidly and create exactly the situation you have.
(Not saying that's what he did; just that it's possible.)
Is the wall closed in now so that the piping can't be viewed?
Jim
db...@sprynet.com
plugs in the area, they want to make sure they are working just in case
there is a fire. each time they open the hydrant to check it we have the
brown water for the rest of the day.... its the sediment in the pipe,
the underground main pipes are iron and probably covered with rust.. i
have all coper and no problem until next month.... we all, the whole
neighborhood get the rust looking water.. you probably have iron pipes
someplace in the house and that where the brown water i coming from. the
plumber is not responsible for it unless he install the iron pipes
against your wishes..... you can go to plumbing supply houses and see
the new big diameter iron pipes, never been used and its rusty sitting
in the storage yards waiting for someone to buy it and install. so even
with new pipe(new to be installed) you can still get the brown water....
Keithtooth
>the installer used an iron pipe nipple somewhere in the circuit
>common to both shower head and handheld. A plain (black) nipple
>will rust very rapidly and create exactly the situation you have.
>(Not saying that's what he did; just that it's possible.)
>
>Is the wall closed in now so that the piping can't be viewed?
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>
Thanks Jim,
The wall is closed up and tiled right now. I don't know if this matters but
the faucet rough in was 3/4 and the water lines are 1/2". Could this be an
area where the plumber could have used a 3/4 to 1/2 (iron) adapter in the line?
Thanks.
Keith
Speedy Jim
That's a possibility at least.
Can you gain access to the other side of the wall and cut
a tiny observation hole?
Jim
Edwin Pawlowski
"Keithtooth" <keith...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20011130181043...@mb-fc.aol.com...
> The shower faucet uses a thermostatic mixer with two volume controls, one
for
> the shower head and the other for the hand held. The brown water comes
from
> both connections.
>
it is
> sediment in the pipes shouldn't it resolve itself after a few days /
weeks?
This is the only location you see it? Do you have well or town water?
My house, like most built in the last 50 years has copper tubing so you get
no rust. The problem is that the main water lines between the pumping
station and my house are over 100 years old and full of rust. I get plenty
of carry over.
It may be possible that you have it in other lines, but for some reason you
don't see it like the shower. Perhaps it is accumulating in you lines and
due to the layout of the piping, it shows up here. If that is the case, the
problem is easily solved by installing a whole house sediment filter in the
main line. I have two of them and have to change the elements every month.
It is possible that the plumber took a shortcut in the installation and se a
plain black pipe nipple instead of galvanized in the line. In most cases,
the only place you have a pipe nipple is right at the shower head. I say
shortcut because he may not have had the right size nipple in the truck in
galvanized and just figured he could get away with a short piece and it
never would be noticed. In most cases, the rust would only be a few seconds
when you turn the faucet on.
If this is the case, it will not get flushed out but will continue to rust
until it finally gets a pin hole and leaks. That could take a few months to
a few years depending on the acidity of the water.
Let us know what you find.
Ed
e...@snet.net
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
jstp
the faucet, not at the shower head, so I know the problem is between the
diverter and the faucet. It's definitely rust, and it usually appears after
a couple of days if I don't use the shower. The water clears after about
5-10 seconds at full volume.
Does anyone in this group know if this should be fixed soon, or is it just a
nuisance? Access to pipes is a problem, so I don't want to fix this unless
it's absolutely necessary.
Thanks.
"Keithtooth" <keith...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20011130181043...@mb-fc.aol.com...
Speedy Jim
The installer probably used an iron nipple or elbow to
connect the spout. It's an annoyance and may stain the tub but
I would not rate it a big problem. It will probably last a
long time and the spout connection is not under pressure.
Jim
Keithtooth
>run. Maybe the entire shower setup is iron pipe. But that would be
>hard to believe if you picked a reputable plumber.
>
>Even so, I would doubt the color build-up would be that dark if you
>use the shower on a regular basis. Sure, the pipe might be rusting,
>But rust doesn't build up that fast.
>
>Let us know how you make out, Keith. I'd call the GC again and ask
>him to explain his logic about the sediment...and why you're not
>getting the problem from the spigot...and why copper or plastic would
>cause sediment only in the stand pipe.
>
Update:
The plumber was over yesterday and did use a black / iron elbow in one outlet
from the shower. He was able to replace it without too much difficulty. I
have not tested it yet but I am sure it will improve.
Thanks for all of the info.
Keith
