Areas We Serve

Areas We Serve

What Causes Rusty or Brown Tap Water?

You expect clean, clear water when you turn on the tap—but instead a brown or rusty stream comes out. It’s unpleasant and can make you wonder whether something is wrong with your plumbing and if the water is safe to use.

When this happens in your Seattle home, it typically indicates an issue within your pipes, your water heater, or sometimes the city’s supply line. In any case, it’s important not to ignore it.

At 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle, we’ve helped many homeowners track down the cause of discolored water. Sometimes the fix is simple, while other times it points to a larger repair. Understanding the “why” makes all the difference.

Why Your Water Could Look Brown or Rusty

Some of the most common causes include:

Aging pipes – Old metal pipes corrode over time, and rust flakes can mix with your water.
Water heater corrosion – If only the hot water appears rusty, the inside of your water heater tank may be deteriorating.
City water supply issues – Hydrant flushing or nearby water main work can stir up sediment in the municipal system.

Even if the discoloration clears up temporarily, recurring rusty water often indicates a deeper issue that needs attention.

Quick Checks You Can Make

Try these simple tests before calling a plumber:

Run the cold tap for a few minutes – If it clears, the issue may be sediment from the city’s system.
Test hot and cold separately – Rusty hot water usually points to a failing water heater.
Fill a clear glass – This helps you see how rusty or cloudy the water is and whether any sediment settles.

If the water stays discolored from multiple taps—or if both hot and cold lines show rust—it’s time to call a professional.

When Discolored Water Means Trouble

Sometimes rusty water is temporary. Other times, it’s a sign of real problems. Watch out for:

Water that stays rusty day after day
Both hot and cold taps producing brown water
Metallic tastes, leaks, or stains around fixtures

These symptoms may indicate failing pipes or a water heater nearing the end of its lifespan. Addressing the issue early can help prevent expensive plumbing problems later.

Typical Repair Costs in Seattle

The cost of fixing rusty or discolored water depends on the underlying issue:

Replacing a water heater: $1,200–$4,500
Repiping or partial pipe replacement: Pricing varies based on home size and layout

These repairs help ensure safe, clean water while protecting your plumbing system in the long run.

Get Clear Water With 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle

Rusty or brown tap water isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a sign that your plumbing needs attention. Whether the cause is aging pipes, a failing water heater, or a city supply issue, our team will find the root of the problem.

Call 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle today at (206) 487-1757. Our experts will diagnose the issue, walk you through your options, and restore clean, safe water to your home.

2 Sons Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air

4.9

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Maria Kute

23:01 18 Nov 25

Thank you, Bob, for your professional, courteous, and kind service! My downstairs tub was running with high pressure due to some worn out stems. Bob was thorough—but unfortunately our fixtures are quite old, and he didn’t have appropriate replacements available the first day. However, they were able to find the appropriate stems for our tub and fixed the leak right away day 2. I cannot speak highly enough about how grateful I am for the way 2 Sons accommodated my schedule when they needed to return with the appropriate fixtures. The technician was a genuine joy to work with—and I appreciate the quick follow up and turn around. I also appreciate the way Bob walked me through the process and double checked for leaks.

Maria Kute

23:01 18 Nov 25

Evan Rose

16:17 18 Nov 25

We had a great experience. Brandon and Chris were very polite and professional. We had a massive leak under a toilet and they came and fixed it on a Saturday. They were very timely and hardworking. Ethan was another who was also very polite and professional. Pricing was also very manageable for the extent of the problem we had. I would highly recommend.

Evan Rose

16:17 18 Nov 25

YuliyaG

22:06 14 Nov 25

I had a great experience with 2Sons Plumbing. Communication was on point from start to finish. Dave arrived on time, was very friendly, and knowledgeable. He also gave me a helpful heads-up about our heater and offered great advice. I really appreciate the professionalism and will definitely use them again!

YuliyaG

22:06 14 Nov 25

Brandy Przybylak

19:28 05 Nov 25

We really enjoyed our experience with 2 Sons. We had an emergency that had water all over our kitchen and basement. They were able to send someone out later in the evening for us after several other companies either cancelled on us or said they couldn't come until the next day. Our technician/plumber Riley was great to work with - friendly, quick, and effective! They even gave us a call back a few days later to check in on our experience and to answer some extra questions we had. Highly recommend!

Brandy Przybylak

19:28 05 Nov 25

Carol Wong

19:21 04 Nov 25

I have not decided to go with 2 Sons for the plumbing issues I have yet. However, I am very impressed by the technician, Guy, who came for the appointment. He was professional, friendly, knowledgeable, courteous, and thorough. I told him that I was just getting a quote and not ready to commit to do the repair right away. He was very understanding. I have a clogged kitchen sink, disconnected washer hose causing water damage, and likely a disconnected pipe behind the wall. He explained the steps I need to take before he can help for all three issues. Like I should hire the restoration company to repair the water damage before reconnecting the pipes. He also helped to take pictures and referred me to a restoration company for the jobs outside of his scope. Before he left, he measured the water pressure to make sure the pressure is within a normal range. Just to make sure the water is not putting too much pressure on the fixtures resulting leaks. It was definitely a surprisingly pleasant and thorough experience with Guy.

Carol Wong

19:21 04 Nov 25

Joanne Chan

01:00 31 Oct 25

Excellent service from 2 Sons Plumbing – highly recommended!

We recently had 2 Sons Plumbing come out to fix several issues at our place. We couldn’t be happier with the results. Marcos and Chris were absolutely fantastic — professional, knowledgeable, and very thorough in their work. Every single job was done with precision and care.

Marcos and Chris took the time to explain what they were doing, answered all our questions patiently, and made sure everything was up to code and functioning perfectly before they left. They worked efficiently, left the area spotless.

It’s rare to find such reliable, honest, and detail-oriented professionals these days. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to my friends and neighbors.

Joanne Chan

01:00 31 Oct 25

Jurusha Emerson

16:11 28 Oct 25

I called 2 Sons Plumbing and was able to get them to come out to the house the very next day. The over the phone customer service were very personable and friendly. On the day of my appointment, Bob was the one sent to our house to fix our kitchen faucet. Bob was extremely friendly and helpful in fixing my faucet. He was very considerate and quick with his work. I did not feel like I was being taken advantage of or overpriced as far as how much they were charging. Bob was always transparent with the cost and also trying to find the most cost-effective way to accomplish what needed to get done? I would recommend 2 Sons plumbing to anyone who needs plumbing service. 2 Sons plumbing has a gem for an employee (Bob). If I were to call 2 Sons plumbing again for service, I would definitely want to request Bob as my priority person.
Thankyou so much

Jurusha Emerson

16:11 28 Oct 25

Mackenzie Maynes

02:22 28 Oct 25

After the recent power outage I discovered that my combi-boiler went on the fritz, meaning no hot water and no heat in my home—a very chilly situation for Seattle fall. 2 Son’s was so friendly and able to send out Adam same-day which was a huge relief! Adam quickly assed the issue, fixed it and provided a thorough explanation of what he did to get the system up and running again (which I deeply appreciated). I am thoroughly impressed by his knowledge of these units; turns out the pressure reducing valve on my machine also needs to be replaced, which explains why my water pressure has always been a bit funky between hot and cold. Adam provided an affordable proposal for a future repair to my unit for optimal functioning. Would absolutely recommend Adam and 2 Sons!

Mackenzie Maynes

02:22 28 Oct 25

Amy J

01:15 28 Oct 25

Had a great experience with 2 Sons Plumbing, Heating & Air. Their scheduling system was smooth — I got a call when Carey was assigned, could track his arrival, and everything ran on time. Carey was fantastic! He inspected the garbage disposal, coordinated with my property manager for approval, and quickly installed the new system. He was respectful, efficient, and made sure everything worked perfectly. Really appreciated his help!

Amy J

01:15 28 Oct 25

Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Our house decided to replace our own toilet, but we got stuck halfway through because we didn’t have the right tools and accidentally broke an anchor bolt. I called 2 Sons Plumbing, and they showed up within an hour to help us out. Derek, our plumber, was super friendly, explained everything clearly, and got the job done quickly and professionally. Excellent service all around—highly recommend!

Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25