Why is my hot water brown but kitchen sink hot water not brown?

Question

I'm having a problem with my hot water, if it hasn't been used for a while it comes out brown for a bit then gets clear.

The hot water in the kitchen sink doesn't seem to do this (it is on the first floor).

I flushed the water heater but the water wasn't brown... the water heater is about 12 years old now.

I'm starting to think that maybe I flushed it after I already emptied out the brown water?

Could the pump that circulates this water cause the brown discoloration (because I don't really notice it downstairs, only upstairs).

In any case, would it be safe to say this is a water heater issue and not a piping issue (copper pipes).

Answer 1

Unless the hot water all through the house is brown, I wouldn't blame the hot water heater. More than likely it's a pipe issue. Although copper doesn't rust per say, it does have a brownish tinted corrosion. Also, the copper pipes aside, there are fixtures, such as tub and sink faucets, that will still contain metal, which can rust. Is it more prominant in the tub or sink? Run your finger up into the faucet. Can you get rust out if it with your finger?