Purple/red discharge from showers

[fogarty]

Brothers recently had new house built and he's complaining about coloured discharge from mixer showers. First thought was flux but no discharge from any taps or toilets just showers. 95% of house is plastic pipe except first couple of meters in garage after stop tap. Any ideas ?

 

[LegionellaSlave]

Is it always discoloured or just when it's first turned on for a few seconds?

 

[fogarty]

It looks clear just leaves purple residue on head and down walls

 

[tamz]

Maybe someone used an iron fitting when installing it.

 

[herbert]

I had a simlar problem and it turned out it was a mesh filter that rusted in the fixed shower head

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/plumbing-forum/21135-brown-water-dripping.html#post153391

 

[REDSAW]

could be a fiber washer breaking down in the system.
last one i had was pink apparently, didnt see it when i called round but the gay guy insisted it was.
good idea to call water undertaker to test water supply.

still working for 'foxy' phil?

 

[fogarty]

Thinking if it was something like water supply there would be discolouration in kettle , taps ,bath etc but no, just two mixer showers on two different floors

 

[LegionellaSlave]

Thinking if it was something like water supply there would be discolouration in kettle , taps ,bath etc but no, just two mixer showers on two different floors

Maybe the showers are the problem.

Cheap parts etc.

I'd have a look at them first. Remove and inspect.

 

[fogarty]

Thnig is there working perfectly, I didn't supply or fit them and I don't want to start taking things to bits and cause more problems. Do you think there may be purple grease/lubricant in shower mixer that has been flushed out

 

[REDSAW]

more like ink from sticker or hair dye=same colour

 

[tamz]

Other than gentian violet i dont know anything that does purple.

 

[fogarty]

Is that used in plumbing or have you been watching The Joy Of Painting on satellite

 

[tamz]

It was used for scabies when i was young but seemingly you can use it for thrush.................purple fan ni (i better stop there or i might get banned) :lol:

 

[mountainman]

Other than gentian violet i dont know anything that does purple.

Could be Purple Rain or even Deep Purple!

 

[ManchesterGas]

It's bacteria. United Utilities | At home | Got a problem? | Water quality | Slime and staining

 

[fogarty]

It's bacteria. United Utilities | At home | Got a problem? | Water quality | Slime and staining

Thanks for that ,I'll print the fact sheet off and tell his wife that you said she's not cleaning it properly. Get ready for a phone call. LOL

 

[ManchesterGas]

Lol, it's airbourne bacteria, not much you can do about it apart from clean it up when it marks. It would be wise to strip the shower heads and leave them soaking in grot buster overnight

 

[Bernie2]

We get similar and all is okay with shower and head.