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Hot water has yellow tint.

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  • 24-04-2014 5:38pm
    #1
    crazywaterspec
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭


    Hi,
    Yesterday a plumber was over at my house trying to fix the inefficient heaters, he power flushed the radiators. After that the hot water in the whole house had a yellowish tint to it, the cold water was fine. I asked him why this happened and he said that there is a hole in the hot water cylinder and that it will need replacing. It was working completely fine in the morning before he came and suddenly the hot water is yellowish.

    We emptied the hot water tank several times by letting it run out of the taps but nothing worked

    Is this the plumbers fault and is this water safe for usage?


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    #2
    Dtp1979
    Registered Users Posts: 12,730 ✭✭✭✭Dtp1979


    crazywaterspec wrote: »
    Hi,
    Yesterday a plumber was over at my house trying to fix the inefficient heaters, he power flushed the radiators. After that the hot water in the whole house had a yellowish tint to it, the cold water was fine. I asked him why this happened and he said that there is a hole in the hot water cylinder and that it will need replacing. It was working completely fine in the morning before he came and suddenly the hot water is yellowish.

    We emptied the hot water tank several times by letting it run out of the taps but nothing worked

    Is this the plumbers fault and is this water safe for usage?

    Sounds like a pinhole in your cylinder. Flushing would not cause this. It was probably just about to leak and maybe the flush exposed this.


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    #3
    crazywaterspec
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭crazywaterspec


    Dtp1979 wrote: »
    Sounds like a pinhole in your cylinder. Flushing would not cause this. It was probably just about to leak and maybe the flush exposed this.

    Okay. What would the solution be ?


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    #4
    shane 007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 914 ✭✭✭shane 007


    Is your system semi-sealed?
    If so, it could be fed from the main CWST & relying on a non-return valve which has failed. The flush has washed back into the tank.
    If so, convert to semi-sealed & drain & clean the CWST.


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    #5
    crazywaterspec
    Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭crazywaterspec


    Hmm.
    It seems that when the heating/boiler(downstairs) is on the hot water is yellow. I turned it off and let the hot water tank empty and then this time I only flicked the switch upstairs and the hot water is now clear. So confused..


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    #6
    jane82
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭jane82


    The yellow water is a symptom of a leak your plumber found. The pressure he applied to the system may have made the hole slightly bigger but the hole was there causeing damage before he arrived.
    Cylinder needs replaceing. It did before he was there he just found it.
    100 percent not his fault unless he climbed into the cylinder and cut the coil with a hacksaw.
    If you dont change the cylinder you are waiting on the constant feed of new water into the system to cause damage to the pipes and boiler.


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    #7
    jane82
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭jane82


    crazywaterspec wrote: »
    Hmm.
    It seems that when the heating/boiler(downstairs) is on the hot water is yellow. I turned it off and let the hot water tank empty and then this time I only flicked the switch upstairs and the hot water is now clear. So confused..
    When the heating water gets hot and pumped it pushes into the hotwater side of the cylinder. When the heating is off both sides are at roughly the same pressure so mostly stay to their own sides.


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    #8
    richieburke01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 217 ✭✭richieburke01


    Replace cylinder that's it don't mess around with it


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    #9
    JohnnieK
    Registered Users Posts: 2,526 ✭✭✭JohnnieK


    Either way he needs to come back to investigate.

    Both previous replies are valid scenarios.

    If the non return valve (if present) had failed you would see dirty water from the flush in toilet cisterns and the tank.

    Do you have any idea if the system is sealed or semi-sealed?


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    #10
    jane82
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭jane82


    Oh and the yellow could be just a chemical he put in the heating after he flushed it. Of course it wasnt there before.


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    #11
    shane 007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 914 ✭✭✭shane 007


    Is there only a large water cistern in your attic?
    If so, check in the hot press for a 1/2" pipe leading to your heating pipes. There is normally a red handle valve on it with a brass non-return valve just underneath it.
    If this is so, you do not need to replace your cylinder.


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    #12
    richieburke01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 217 ✭✭richieburke01


    shane 007 wrote: »
    Is there only a large water cistern in your attic?
    If so, check in the hot press for a 1/2" pipe leading to your heating pipes. There is normally a red handle valve on it with a brass non-return valve just underneath it.
    If this is so, you do not need to replace your cylinder.

    But there is no yellow tint in cold water supply to taps or toilet sounds like cylinder
    A couple of pictures would nail it down


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    #13
    shane 007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 914 ✭✭✭shane 007


    richieburke01 wrote: »
    But there is no yellow tint in cold water supply to taps or toilet sounds like cylinder
    A couple of pictures would nail it down

    Sorry, you are exactly right. I never read the tint is in hot water only.
    It would indeed indicate a split coil in the cylinder.


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    #14
    richieburke01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 217 ✭✭richieburke01


    shane 007 wrote: »
    Sorry, you are exactly right. I never read the tint is in hot water only.
    It would indeed indicate a split coil in the cylinder.

    I thought I was reading this wrong
    No worries we are all here to help


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