Water Heater Gunk

Big Will

Look at this product it would separate the system and is very easy to install. Great reset control and not to expensive. Separate that water! You are gambling with your health. This is a point of argument on this site but there is too much info out there that makes me want run not walk away from open systems

John W

New Cond Water Heater with gunk

I recently had a new condensing water heater installed in my home in the NE States. It is part of a DHW system that also supplies heating to an open loop radiant floor system. There was some mis-communication between the supplier of the radiant components, the plumber, and the owner (myself). I ended up with a system that was half open and half closed and none of it worked. The closed part was a cast iron circulation pump and an expansion tank with an air extractor. The open part was the DHW heater. It sat for a a few days while it got converted (by way of a stainless steel pump) to a hybrid open system (it still has the exp tank and air extractor). The radiant suplier swears that all the components are rated for potable water and it should not be the source of any problems (read on for what the problem is). The DHW heater manufacturer insists that I would have the, "First tank in the history of the World to have this problem." (again, read on). All of this background may be a school of red herrings for the next part...since startup, the hot water has the color of weak tea. I recently drained the 50gal tank and got a bunch of reddish gunk out of it. I have attached a photo. Some of the gunk is sandy (maybe even copper shavings), some of it is very fine and dissolves in the water when agitated. So, my questions are, "What is this stuff?", "Is it likely that it came with the DHW heater?", "Could the plumber have done something odd?", and "Am I a nitwit?" Don't answer that last one. Any help would be appreciated.

Unknown

Water heater gunk,

John, are you on a well or municipal water supply?
Is there a softener or iron filter somewhere on this?

Dave

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_11

try this link

Google: water heater + Legionalla bacteria

John W

Water Heater gunk

We are on the NYC water supply. We don't have a filter or a water softener. I don't think it is a problem associated with the domestic water from the street as the cold water has no color associated with it.

jp_2

seeing believing

I've seen similar gunk in radiation heat lines, glad I do not suggest open systems, gross!!!!!!!

I assume its got to do with water sitting too long at warm/hot/cold temperatures.

even a water bottle that you just use for water gets gross after time, think about that.

Larry Weingarten

The sediment..

... looks like the typical stuff you get from a water heater. The "tea" color suggests ferrous metal. What kind of heater is it? If glass lined, you may be seeing anode corrosion in the mix.

I'm certain you're safer going with a heat exchanger and separate systems. That would also simplify troubleshooting this problem.

If you set a glass of cold water out overnight, is it completely clear the next day?

Yours, Larry