Evidence of rusty or red water problems is usually due to two sources.
Water from rusty water heaters, pipes or water storage containers causes staining to be more sporadic.
Warning
The important ingredient in rust remover compounds is an acid-usually oxalic or hydrofluoric acid.
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Any acid remaining in the fibers will deteriorate the fabrics.
Never use chlorine bleach to remove the stains because chlorine bleach will set rust stains permanently.
Dry articles in the sun, then rinse.
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Take non-colorfast fabrics to a commercial laundry for professional treatment.
A rusty water heater or pipes can leach enough iron into your washer to cause problems.
Replacement of the water heater, pipes, or a rusty water storage container may solve the problem.
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Many local water municipalities will perform this service for you at no or a very low cost.
you might also purchase water testing kits online.
Another alternative is to hold the iron in suspension by use of a phosphate feeder system.
This would need to address discoloration of clothes, fixtures, etc., as well as smell and taste.
For moderate iron levels, a green sand filter or oxidizing filter may be adequate.
It is important to have a filter sized to handle large quantities of water throughout the house.
For high concentrations of iron, a chlorination/filtration system treats water before it enters the lines.
The chlorination/filtration system has two main parts: a chlorinator and a filter.
An automatic chlorinator, generallyusing household chlorine laundry bleachand releases chlorine into the water system.
These treatments which usually require professional installation can be expensive.
Always have your water tested by an independent lab before installing any system.
