Got Brown Water From The Hot Water Heater

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Joe Mullee

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Jun 3, 2004
418
Island Packet Island Packet 29 West River, MD
Lately the water coming from the hot water faucets has been brownish in color. Today I winterized the water tanks and when I emptied the water heater the water was a medium brown in color. Is this rust? Time for a new water heater?

Thanks for any advice.

Joe Mullee
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
What brand tank? It sounds to me like you may have a glass lined steel tank where the glass lining has failed and allowed the water to come in contact with the steel tank thus causing rust. This is a common symptom of failure in home water heaters that are glass lined. There were not too many glass lined marine water heaters but there are a few..
 
J

Joe Mullee

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Jun 3, 2004
418
Island Packet Island Packet 29 West River, MD
It's an Atlantic Marine Stainless Corporation six gallon tank. The manual says the tank is a "polyester lined steel tank". What do you think?

Thanks.
 
Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

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Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
I think the lining has failed

Prob'ly because a PO has used bleach in it, or maybe just due to chlorinated water....chlorine will rot polyester. With the linng eaten through in places, the steel would corrode. Which means it's time for a new water heater.

Raritan water heaters aren't cheap, but they are the best by far...glass lined, with a replaceable anode, and a polymer shell that cannot corrode. It's what was on my last two boats...the first was 11 yrs old and still in fine condition when I sold te boat...the second was 22 years old and still in fine condition when I sold the boat. Raritan Water Heaters
 
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