What is Iron Ochre?
Iron bacteria is a living microorganism that occurs when there is a high level of iron or manganese in ground water and wells. They attach themselves to the sides of the pipes, basement systems and/or pumps and feed off of iron ochre, resulting in a thick reddish ooze. Because of the thickness of this ooze, it can clog drains, plumbing and basement systems and make them inefficient or inoperable.
What Causes Iron Bacteria in Wet Basements?
Iron bacteria is prevalent and can be found in plumbing and basement systems all over the country. Depending on the home and environment it can become a large problem for plumbing, basement systems and sump pumps that needs to be resolved for those systems to operate efficiently.
In basements it is common to find this bacteria in:
- Blocked Basement Systems
- Broken Sump Pumps
- Rotting Pipes
- Clogged Plumbing
How Iron Ochre Affects Your Home
This bacteria can negatively impact your home in the following ways:.
- Basement Systems: Iron ochre can block waterflow through basement systems making them ineffective.
- Smell: Iron ochre can cause a musty or sewage-like stench.
- Stains: Iron ochre is reddish-brown and will stain any surface it comes into contact with. It is extremely difficult to remove.
- Drinking Water: If iron ochre is in the pipes that supply drinking water, this may affect the taste of your water.
Testing for Iron Ochre
How to Keep Iron Ochre from Clogging Your Basement System?
IronX Piping provides a basement system solution for iron ochre to allow home owners to flush these contaminants out of their basement systems to keep the water free flowing and keep the basement systems working as they should. The piping includes 3 empty chambers that allow the home owner to use water pressure to flush the iron ochre out of the system and keep the basement system working properly.
Request More Information
For more information on our Iron X Piping Systems please request more information below or call 518-635-7070.