Hot water issue .. rusty .. pipes.. need advice
 

Over the past few months, I've noticed that when I turn the shower on the
2nd floor on, the hot water is rusty in color. -- HOWEVER, the rust color
does go away within 30 seconds or so. The 1st floor kitchen, on the other
hand, does not have this initial rusty colored water.

Other facts .. 80 year old house, plumbing probably matches. Gas water
heater was warranted for 6 years, is now on 12th year. I occasionally will
drain some water out of the water heater. -- Other item .. throughout the
house, over a few months, every faucet will collect rusty colored pieces in
all aerators from all faucets.

So .. no doubt, my hot water heater is getting near the end of its life. --
BUT, if that was the case, why would the hot water color clear up after
running it for a while?

The other possibility, is the pipes are rusty, being so old. So when I turn
the hot water on, the first gallon or so has been sitting in the pipes,
collecting rust. When "fresh" hot water gets to the 2nd floor from the WH,
it's clear. This would indicate the WH is NOT to blame for the rustiness.
(right?)

Furthermore, why wouldn't the cold water also appear initially rusty, if the
pipes were to blame? Those pipes would be equally old. Is there something
about hot water that makes pipes rust quicker?

Could this possibly be a sacrificial anode problem in my WH?

Last question .. if it IS the pipes .. with each rusty piece I collect in a
faucet aerator .. does that mean my pipes are eventually going to bust? How
in hell they'd ever run new pipe in my house makes me wonder. You'd have to
tear so many walls open, move so many fixtures, it might be cheaper to
bulldoze and start fresh! Is there some magical plumbing technique to
replace pipes in walls, etc?

Hot water issue .. rusty .. pipes.. need advice
 

Its the pipes are they galavinized? look like steel?

hot water galavinized lines fail first and yes they are eroding away
and will start leaking soon.

PEX plasatic plumbing is ideal for retrofit, flexible easy to work with
and much cheaper installed than copper or even regular plastic since
PEX is flexible

Hot water issue .. rusty .. pipes.. need advice
 

My parents had the same problem. They had the whole house replumbed in
CPVC approx 20 years ago. I would not have used CPVC, but this was
before PEX, and for some reason the guy that did it didnt want to use
copper. I live about 250 miles away so it would not have been feasable
for me to have done it for them. Anyway, my mother lucked out and found
someone just starting a plumbing business and he bid the job for some
rediculously low price-- $500 as I recall. When they got through, she
told them that they were way too cheap and gave them more than they had
asked for. FWIW- the house was built in 1957(we moved there in 1961) 2
bathroom, slab on grade, pipes in the attic. Very tip of South Texas, so
not too much danger of freezing.Anyhow, that solved the problem, and
they have not had a bit of trouble with the new plumbing since.
Larry

Hot water issue .. rusty .. pipes.. need advice
 

The pipes I can see in the basement are generally painted white. Some have
some odd insulation wrap that must be 30 years old.. A few seem to .. I
dunno, be plastered over? Very odd stuff, but what do I know.

In a house that old the "plaster stuff" you're looking at might be old
asbestos insulation, I think the flaky stuff you want to avoid
disturbing.

Hot water issue .. rusty .. pipes.. need advice
 

Thanks for your help, guys.

Damnit, I'm just so tired of putting money into this old house. Two years
ago, I told my wife we were either moving, remodelling, or bull-dozing. She
talked me into remodelling, but two of the frustrated contractors said
bulldozing was probably the better route.

I have to admit it's a charming 80 year old tudor, but bottom line is, it
aint making it to 100 without another $30k of work.


wrote in message
oups.com...
no probably not the tank, painting galvanized lines white or silver
were pretty common.

are you into plumbing? perhaps with a knowledgable friend you can do it
a area at a time.

no doubt there will be some holes but with pex plastic flexible lines,
a minimum of damage.

call and get multiple estimates from plumbers