white rocks in faucets?
Sean Parker
When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white pieces
of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few days
and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
repeating.
I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
what are these white pieces?
can I get rid of this problem for good?
thanks for any help,
Sean
Robert Hancock
and 1996 have defective plastic dip tubes that slowly disintegrate and the
debris clogs up aerators. There is now a class action lawsuit settlement
about some of these heaters, this page describes those involved:
http://www.diptubesettlement.com/notice.html
--
Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada
To email, remove "nospam" from hanc...@nospamhome.com
Home Page: http://members.home.net/hancockr
"Sean Parker" <spa...@sprintmail.com> wrote in message
news:38702FCB...@sprintmail.com...
TheRemodelingGuy.com
If the problem goes away for a couple of months at a time, it may just be
bits of buildup breaking away. I would either stick to a good maintenance
regimen and clean the faucets etc. regularly, or another option is some sort
of water treatment where the water comes into the house, straight from the
main. A water conditioner will soften the water (i.e) remove particles,
calcium ( not all, a small amount in the water is always good for healthy
teeth and bones-commercials over) and lime and eliminate build up. It may
also loosen up much of the build up in the pipes for a while, but eventually
it will cease.
Or you could train a cockroach to use a file and.........it's getting late.
Hope this helps.
--
Jimmy McDonald
THE Local Hard Working Remodeling Guy
http://www.TheRemodelingGuy.com
TheRemod...@Mindspring.com
Robert Hancock <hanc...@nospamhome.com> wrote in message
news:bfXb4.4554$v9.1...@news1.sshe1.sk.home.com...
Gary Slusser
"TheRemodelingGuy.com" <theremod...@mindspring.com> wrote
> Sounds to me like a calcium and lime buildup in the pipes from hard water.
> If the problem goes away for a couple of months at a time, it may just be
> bits of buildup breaking away. I would either stick to a good maintenance
> regimen and clean the faucets etc. regularly, or another option is some
sort
> of water treatment where the water comes into the house, straight from the
> main. A water conditioner will soften the water (i.e) remove particles,
> calcium ( not all, a small amount in the water is always good for healthy
> teeth and bones-commercials over) and lime and eliminate build up. It may
> also loosen up much of the build up in the pipes for a while, but
eventually
> it will cease.
>
> Or you could train a cockroach to use a file and.........it's getting
late.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> --
> Jimmy McDonald
> THE Local Hard Working Remodeling Guy
> http://www.TheRemodelingGuy.com
> TheRemod...@Mindspring.com
To be hardness scale he'd have to have a softener not regenerating properly
(increased water use or a salt bridge etc.) or a fluctuating hadness
level.... could be his own well fluctuating but it's more likely if he's on
'city water'.
Gary
Quality Water Associates
Michael Edelman
Sean Parker wrote:
>
> Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
> When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white pieces
> of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few days
> and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
> repeating.
> I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
>
> what are these white pieces?
Mineral deposits. Probably breaking off from inside the pipes and being
stopped in the screen.
David Thomas
Sean Parker <spa...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
> Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
> When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white
> pieces
> of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few
> days
> and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
> repeating.
> I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
>
> what are these white pieces?
>
> thanks for any help,
Sean, there is an easy test to see if the peices are from a
disintegrating dip tube in the hot water heater (my guess) or scale.
Simply collect some of the "rocks" and place them in a glass of
vinegar. Leave them overnight. If they are gone by morning, then
mineral scale would be the right answer. If they are still there by
morning, then you have a bad dip tube and you need to do more than
simply clean the screens routinely.
--
David
Email me at dth...@NO.cityutil.com
(Remove "NO." spam protection)
Opinions expressed are my own.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
NOSPAMBOB
>
>Or you could train a cockroach to use a file and.........it's getting late.
>
Name works for E-mail
Sean Parker
If it is a bad dip tube then what is the answer to the problem.
Just to replace the water heater?
Sean
Daniel Hicks wrote:
> Sean Parker wrote:
> >
> > Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
> > When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white pieces
> > of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few days
> > and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
> > repeating.
> > I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
> >
> > what are these white pieces?
> > can I get rid of this problem for good?
>
> Your water heater dip tube has disintegrated. Get the water heater
> brand name, look up the manufacturer (or get there 800 number on the
> nameplate) and give them a call. They should reimburse at least part of
> the expense of having the dip tube replaced.
C C Day
filter from the kitchen tap, but the shower clogs up regularly. I will try
David's vinegar test also -- but if it is mineral deposits, what can be
added to the tank to soften the water?
Cal
"Daniel Hicks" <danh...@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:3871528C...@ieee.org...
> Sean Parker wrote:
> >
> > I am going to run the test that david suggested with the vinegar.
> >
> > If it is a bad dip tube then what is the answer to the problem.
> > Just to replace the water heater?
>
Daniel Hicks
Daniel Hicks
Daniel Hicks
>
> We have the same problem from our solar heater, and I have removed the
> filter from the kitchen tap, but the shower clogs up regularly. I will try
> David's vinegar test also -- but if it is mineral deposits, what can be
> added to the tank to soften the water?
If the problem is hard water then the only solution is a water softener.
Alan Quinn
wrote:
I have been having this problem even with a water softener and I don't
believe it's scale because it doesn't dissolve in vinegar.
gwar...@zoomnet.net
If they have the screen, as most usually do. only the hot side will
have the residue.
jerry
On Mon, 03 Jan 2000 20:34:15 GMT, David Thomas
<dthom...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>In article <38702FCB...@sprintmail.com>,
> Sean Parker <spa...@sprintmail.com> wrote:
>> Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
>> When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white
>> pieces
>> of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few
>> days
>> and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
>> repeating.
>> I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
>>
>> what are these white pieces?
>> can I get rid of this problem for good?
>>
Daniel Hicks
In that case it's either sand or a disintegrated dip tube.
Sean Parker
side.
Now how do you fix this. Just drain the water heater, disconnect it and
remove and replace the cold water dip tube. From looking at the parts list
it appears that it is just 2 parts-heat trap (cold) and the cold water dip
tube. From looking at the water heater it looks like the heat trap is
screwed in with some type of sealing compound.
anything else that I have missed.
I am pretty confident that I can handle this. I have removed and reinstalled
this water heater before, but I just need a little guidance on the proper
procedure.
How much should the parts cost? Can I get them at a plumbing supply store or
do I have to order them from a place that sells water heaters?
Thanks,
Sean
Daniel Hicks
>
> I just did this and it is the dip tube. The white stuff is only on the hot
> side.
>
> Now how do you fix this. Just drain the water heater, disconnect it and
> remove and replace the cold water dip tube. From looking at the parts list
> it appears that it is just 2 parts-heat trap (cold) and the cold water dip
> tube. From looking at the water heater it looks like the heat trap is
> screwed in with some type of sealing compound.
>
> anything else that I have missed.
>
> I am pretty confident that I can handle this. I have removed and reinstalled
> this water heater before, but I just need a little guidance on the proper
> procedure.
>
> How much should the parts cost? Can I get them at a plumbing supply store or
> do I have to order them from a place that sells water heaters?
Contact the water heater manufacturer and see what they will pay for.
Some will pay to have a plumber do it for you, others will at least buy
parts.
Sean Parker
Daniel Hicks wrote:
>
> Contact the water heater manufacturer and see what they will pay for.
> Some will pay to have a plumber do it for you, others will at least buy
> parts.
The manufacture is American Water Heater and the water heater is only 4 years old.
Has any one dealt with these people before?
Sean
Daniel Hicks
Alan Quinn
was told it was most likely a dip tube problem and will come tomorrow
to check it out.
On Mon, 03 Jan 2000 11:07:39 -0500, Michael Edelman <m...@spamcop.net>
wrote:
>
>
>Sean Parker wrote:
>>
>> Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
>> When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white pieces
>> of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few days
>> and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
>> repeating.
>> I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
>>
>> what are these white pieces?
>
Alan Quinn
wrote:
>I called the gas company (they own the water heater) about mine and
>was told it was most likely a dip tube problem and will come tomorrow
>to check it out.
A service man came today. There was nothing left of the dip tube
which explains also why we didn't seem to be getting as much hot
water, getting the cold coming in the top instead.
kenmur...@gmail.com
> Lately all my faucets and shower heads have been getting plugged up.
> When I unscrew them to unplug them I am finding these small white pieces
> of rock or ceramic in them. They keep getting plugged up for a few days
> and then it won't happen for a couple months or so and just keeps
> repeating.
> I lived in this house for 3 years before this even started to happen.
>
>
> what are these white pieces?
kenmur...@gmail.com
kenmur...@gmail.com
David L. Martel
You may have hard water. The calcium can precipitate out and form rocks.
Folks who sell water softeners often will test your water for free.
Dave M.