Brown hot water.. 17 year old Range Tribune

[kempsf]

Hello, I have had brown hot water for weeks now and no one seems to be able to fix it. The gas engineer and now a plumber both say it could be my water cylinder (17 year old Range Tribune) but don't want to replace it without confirmation. Neither of them seem to know how to confirm this. Help.! Please. We are having to wash in this. Thanku

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Is it brown at all outlets? One way to confirm might be to drain the heating circuit and add some dye when refilling, you could get a water sample analysis?

 

[Johntheo5]

If its a vented cylinder then possibly a (if fitted) holed heating coil but the heating system would require constant top up if this the problem.

 

[kempsf]

It is browner upstairs for bath and separate shower. I'm not sure what a vented system is? Thanku

 

[foxhole]

Has anyone been in the loft and disturbed the water tank?

 

[kempsf]

I dont have a water tank in the loft.

 

[kempsf]

This is it. The small white tank was replaced last year for a grey one by the gas engineer (I had a clunking noise on and off).

 

[kempsf]

Grey one. It's been in for 6 months. No issues til brown water 6 weeks ago. Thanks

 

[Madrab]

I presume your cold mains is clean? The Tribune HE is S/S so it shouldn't be that. I would want to check the make and model of that EV. If it's not white or blue then I want to check that the EV is designed for potable water, if not it could be rusting. Does the HW have a metallic taste?

They do make grey potable water EV's of course but I'd still want to confirm. Easy to check for a qualified engineer, depressurise and disconnect the EV and have a looksee.

 

[kempsf]

The water leaves a red dust which smells like iron.

 

[kempsf]

Cold is clean

 

[Johntheo5]

Does you heating system need (more) frequent top ups to increase it from say 1.0bar to 1.5bar?.

 

[kempsf]

Sorry, I have no idea. I have never had issues with having enough hot water for anything.

 

[Madrab]

EV definitely needs checked ASAP.

 

[kempsf]

Well you were right! It was the grey EV that is rusting inside so I'm getting a new one fitted this week. Thanks soooo much everyone! X