Can anyone identify the type of mineral build up in my tankless coil?

javaman

This has been bugging me since I flushed out the coil in my oil boiler this past summer. The flow had slowed to a trickle after 16 years. These granular crystal-like deposits only show up on the hot water side. I'm frequently cleaning the screens in the faucets. I know it's mineral because it fizzes a bit when I mix it with vinegar. So what type of mineral is it? Everything I've seen or read about calcium buildup says it should be white not this reddish brown color. Thanks for any insight.

icesailor

At least it easily comes out.

Its probably some form of calcium carbonate. For an interesting science trick, take a small dish/bowl/cup and put some white vinegar or muriatic acid in it. Light a match or candle and hold the flame over the open container with the vinegar. The flame will continue. Pour that stuff into the vinegar. When the substance is having a really good fizz, put the flame over the top. The flame should go out. Because the acid/vinegar is releasing the carbon dioxide locked into the rock/sand by coral plants when it was extracting dissolved CO2 in the ocean and atmosphere and releasing Oxygen/02. The Earth's first atmospheric pollution. Oxygen.

Ironman

I think you've found Colonel Sanders secret receipt of eleven herbs and spices.

hot_rod

got a water softener? looks a bit like the media, resin beads in the softener tanks.

javaman

Guess now all I need are biscuits & gravy.

No softener installed.

Interesting stuff about the CO2. There's not a crazy amount of fizzing like alka-seltzer, but I see tiny bubbles slowly coming off in the vinegar.

The stuff is hard but I pulverized some with a hammer and it changed into white powder so I think you're right it must be just calcium carbonate. Maybe its been discolored by the copper in the pipes.

Oh well I guess no Colonel Sanders for me then. Thanks for the replies.

icesailor

hot rod said:

got a water softener? looks a bit like the media, resin beads in the softener tanks.

@Hotrod:

Thanks got the box.


BINGO!!!. I thought I recognized it as something I knew.

But then again, Cation Resin doesn't fizzle when it is in Vinegar. Maybe it does though. If it hasn't been regenerated and the "hardness" is still on the resin.

Put it in a clear glass bottle with a cap, add some salt. Shake it up. does anything come off the brown dirt> Does it get smooth and shiny? If it doesn't, it isn't cation beads. If it disappears in Vinegar, it isn't Cation beads.

Interesting though.

Thanks for the box