The fastest test needs nothing but a couple of clear glasses. Fill one with cold water and one with hot from the same faucet. If only the hot glass is brown, cloudy or smells, the problem is on the hot side, and very often inside the heater. If both look or smell wrong, the cause is more likely in the home's supply piping or the water coming from the street, and the City of Orange's water utility is the place to ask about the supply.
Homes from the 1950s through the 1970s in Orange sometimes still have galvanized steel pipe, which rusts from the inside and can tint both hot and cold water. Copper rarely causes brown water. That history matters when you're deciding whether to blame the heater.
What you see or smell, and where it usually starts
| Symptom | Hot only or both? | Common source |
|---|---|---|
| Brown or rusty water | Hot only | Corrosion inside the tank or a spent anode rod |
| Brown or rusty water | Both | Galvanized supply pipes or a supply disturbance |
| Rotten-egg smell | Hot only | Reaction between the anode rod and certain water conditions |
| Milky water that clears from the bottom up | Either | Dissolved air, usually harmless |
| Sandy grit at aerators | Hot only | Sediment or a broken dip tube |
Terms you'll hear
- Anode rod
- A metal rod inside the tank that corrodes on purpose so the steel tank doesn't. Once it's used up, the tank itself starts to corrode.
- Dip tube
- A tube that carries incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank. A broken one can leave plastic bits in the water and reduce hot water.
- Galvanized pipe
- Zinc-coated steel pipe common in older homes, which rusts internally over time.
Likely next steps
- IfOnly hot water is rusty and the tank is older or shows rust at its baseExpect a conversation about replacing the heater.
- IfOnly hot water smells of rotten eggsAsk about the anode rod type and a tank flush; this is often a repair.
- IfHot and cold are both discoloredLook at the house piping and contact the city's water utility about the supply.
- IfYou see grit or plastic bitsAsk the plumber to check the dip tube and the sediment level.
Questions for the plumber
- Did you compare hot and cold, and at more than one fixture?
- What condition is the anode rod in, and can it be replaced on this tank?
- Is there any sign the tank itself is corroding?
- Do our pipes look like part of the problem?
Common questions
Is rusty hot water safe to use?
It usually signals corrosion more than an immediate hazard, but it's a sign the heater or pipes need attention. Ask the city's water utility if both hot and cold are affected.
Can replacing the anode rod save an old tank?
It can extend the life of a tank that isn't yet corroding. Once the tank is rusting through or leaking, a new anode won't help.
Why does the smell come back after vacation?
Water that sits in the tank gives the odor-causing reaction more time. Running hot water for a while usually clears it, and a plumber can address the cause.
General information for Orange, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.