Have you noticed unsightly orange and red stains cropping up on the surface of your bathtub? Rusted baths are the epitome of bathroom woes!
They’re a nightmare to clean, and did you know that bleaching the problem area can cause even further damage? In this article, we’ve put together a short list of the most common causes of rusty baths, the best prevention techniques and how to permanently fix the problem. Rusted bath repairs may be quicker and more affordable than you realise!
Why do baths rust?
There are several reasons why your bathtub may be rusting, so it’s important to suss out the specific cause before going hell for leather with the bleach and scrubbing brush, or marching down to your local hardware store and purchasing DIY bath resurfacing supplies. In fact, these two courses of action can end up doing much more harm than good. We’ll explain why as we run through the typical scenarios that lead to bathtub rust.
Leaking taps
Cause:
leaking taps can cause water to pool around your bath plug hole and rust in the crevices. This problem is most commonly caused by worn rubber washers that need replacing.
Prevention:
If you notice that your taps are leaking or dripping, carefully pull them apart and check the washers inside for wear and tear. If the rubber washers are cracking or split, replace them with new ones, which you can pick up from your local hardware store. This should stop your taps from leaking and causing rust. Of course, the leaking could be due to a more complicated issue such as a corroded valve seat, which may require the attention of a plumber.
Dissolved iron in tap water
Cause:
Even though your tap water may still run clear, it’s possible that it contains high levels of dissolved iron, which can cause rust once it sits and oxidises on the surface of your bathtub.
Prevention:
In the short term, the best way to prevent rust is to wipe down your bath after each use so that residual water containing iron does not corrode the surface. If this seems like a lot of hard work, you could look at installing a water softener in your home, which will remove iron from your water supply and prevent rust from forming in your bathtub and kitchen and laundry sinks. If rust is already present, whatever you do, DO NOT attack it with cleaning products containing bleach! The bleach will react with the iron in the water, exacerbating the problem. Want a long term solution to a rusted bath caused by dissolved iron in tap water? Read on to find out about bathtub relining services.
Uneven bath surfaces
Cause:
Uneven bath surfaces result in the extensive pooling of water, which in turn, causes rust to form. Your bath surface may be uneven because it was not appropriately levelled during installation, or because its foundations have shifted.
Prevention:
The short term solution to this problem would, again, be to ensure that you wipe out your bathtub after each use so that stagnant water isn’t left to corrode the surface. But, let’s be honest, this isn’t something you should have to do after every relaxing soak in the tub! The best long term solution is bathtub relining services, outlined below.
How to permanently fix a rusted bath
Are you beyond preventative techniques? If your bath is already badly rusted, it’s time to get serious about a long-term solution. No one should have to put up with a rusty bathtub! The most affordable, thorough and speedy way to repair a rusted bath is with bathtub relining services. This process involves placing a new acrylic bath liner over your existing tub so that it looks brand new again. The relining method of bath restoration is a much more permanent solution than services such as re-enamelling or re-painting, which often result in the rust resurfacing to bubble the fresh coat of paint. Better yet, bath relining takes just three hours to carry out, and your bath will be ready to use the very next day! You can rest assured that your new bath liner will stay in top shape for many years to come, with a ten-year workmanship and product warranty.
For permanent bath repairs to fix a rusted bath, contact Inner Bath today!
