Aquamax Gas Hot Water System - Brown Water but Stainless Steel Tank

overkillxx on 26/01/2024 - 14:23

Hey Guys,

I have a a very old Aquamax 200 gas hot water system.. Just today I noticed the hot water is coming out brown.. Initially I just assumed perhaps the cylinder is rusting out, however, the cylinder is stainless steel. I've tried letting 10-20 litres out via the pressure release valve and have also ran the hot water for an extended period of time (approx. 40 minutes).. yet the water coming out is still a light brown colour. Cold water is perfectly fine.

There are no obvious leaks I can see around the unit to suggest something is wrong. Plus the water heat is fine as well.

Besides checking the colour of the water via the cold inlet which I will do once I get back home I am lost on what could be causing it. Plus considering the cold water is fine I doubt I will see any brown colour on the cold inlet.

Would anyone with experience with hot water systems be able to offer any advice on what else to check? As its a public holiday its fairly difficult to get someone out to have a look & my one year old takes a bath regularly. Doing so in brown water won't make the wife happy.. :(

image of unit:
https://ibb.co/Xz9kMSx

Home & Garden

Comments

  • elgrande on 26/01/2024 - 15:03

    Did you move the unit? Sounds like sediment at the base has been stirred up.

    • Muzeeb on 26/01/2024 - 15:06

      Move a plumbed in 200kg+ metal box?

      Perhaps the inner cylinder is degrading and parts are falling into the stored water and stirring up sediment?

  • ops on 26/01/2024 - 15:13
    +2

    Couple of thoughts, AFAIK Stainless Steel is rust resistant but can still corrode, so I wouldn't assume the cylinder can't corrode:
    https://www.australwright.com.au/stainless-steel-myths-facts…
    Also assuming it has a sacrificial anode, they are supposed to be replaced say every 5-8 years to protect the cylinder, if not done that could lead to cylinder corrosion.

    • altomic on 26/01/2024 - 16:01

      Also assuming it has a sacrificial anode, they are supposed to be replaced say every 5-8 years to protect the cylinder, if not done that could lead to cylinder corrosion.

      very likely this

    • overkillxx on 26/01/2024 - 18:19
      +1

      Hey thanks for the reply. The current Aquamax Stainless Steel models don't have a sacrificial node. This one may though considering the age. But I can't find anything online for an Aquamax 200. The only thing I've got is what is on the back cover. There isn't anything about a sacrificial node on there though per image below

      https://ibb.co/C0WLw8S

    • lgacb08 on 27/01/2024 - 17:51

      Mate, these are gas storage, they don't need sacrificial anode.

      • ops on 27/01/2024 - 20:35
        +1

        Gas storage normally have a sacrificial anode. In this case due to the stainless steel cylinder it may not. There are companies that change the anodes in gas storage units per the manufacturer recommendations to extend the life of the unit.

  • AndyC1 on 26/01/2024 - 15:34
    +1

    Stainless steel does rust.

  • Stewardo on 26/01/2024 - 21:15
    +1

    Have you taken the filter off the end of the tap? Sometimes kitchen mixers have rusty debris stuck above the mesh filter on the end of the tap.
    How old are the pipes? Are they galvanised at any point?

    • JimB on 13/02/2024 - 11:13

      mesh aerator won't be an issue if it's both hot and cold water.

      Galvanised pipes could be an issue but more likely just the HWS tank.

  • NevC on 26/01/2024 - 22:01

    Have you had any work done on the water meter recently.? When the water meter at my place leaked, they repaired it but that filled the electric hot water system with red soil. Had dirty water for ages as it settles in the bottom. Cold water is not a worry because it flushes straight out.

    If you ever have work done on a water meter, make sure they disconnect inlet to hot water system and flush that before allowing any water into the hot water system.

  • deme on 27/01/2024 - 10:34
    +2

    It's about to fail.

    • lgacb08 on 27/01/2024 - 17:59

      Yes, it's at the end of its life cycle. You better start looking for a replacement unit and if there's not much gas appliances around the house, consider ditching gas altogether to save you annual running costs.
      OP, you could try flush out the full tank, it probably buy you some time until the new unit arrives. 20l flush won't be enough. My friend recently had the same problem with his larger aquamax unit and it took him abour a week later to get water back to acceptable colour. Tank of that age anything could happen, even the long probe connecting to the thermocouple can rust.

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