"LurfysMa" wrote in message
...
Our house was built in the 30s. Some, but not all, of the hot water
faucets are starting to dispense red water. It gradually clears up if
we run it for a few minutes.

Does this mean that we have iron pipes that are rusting away?

"No" wrote in message ...

First suspect, as buffalobill said, is the hot water heater. Probably time
for a new one. If thats not the problem, and you are on city water, I
would
ask my neighbors if they see this too.

Water supply pipes ought nowadays to be either
PVC (plastic) or copper tubing. You can check
yours by applying a magnet. If it sticks to the
pipes, they may be iron or steel.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)