Water advice needed

Bee_Rain · #1 10/21/05, 08:39 PM

Hi all,

I've never posted in this forum, usually just lurk a bit, but I can use some advice about my water.

Lately, whenever I boil some water (well water), I notice alot of white residue left in the pan. I know this is probably minerals etc. but alot of it gathers around the edges, so much that I have to scrub it off with steel wool to clean it, and only after one use!

Is this normal?

Oh, I live about 10 miles from a uranium drilling site, which might spark some paranoia from time to time.

Yvonne's hubby · #2 10/21/05, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bee_Rain

Hi all,

I've never posted in this forum, usually just lurk a bit, but I can use some advice about my water.

Lately, whenever I boil some water (well water), I notice alot of white residue left in the pan. I know this is probably minerals etc. but alot of it gathers around the edges, so much that I have to scrub it off with steel wool to clean it, and only after one use!

Is this normal?

Oh, I live about 10 miles from a uranium drilling site, which might spark some paranoia from time to time.

Do the scrapings glow in the dark? It sounds like yer up for a water softner or opt to drill another well which would most likely produce the same situation if you hit the same aquafir. *peering into my chrystal ball* I do believe I see the Culligan man coming over the horizon =)

Bee_Rain · #3 10/21/05, 09:18 PM

glow in the dark??:P Good God I hope not!!

It would be useless to drill another well. Its one huge aquafir.

It tends to worry me a bit because our skin (mostly our hands) are pretty dry and wrinkly. Not a good look for pre-teens. Which makes me think, if the water is doing this to the outside of our bodies, whats it doing on the inside? too much of ANYTHING isn't good for you, minerals (or traces of uranium :P ) included.

momanto · #4 10/21/05, 10:32 PM

It Is Probably Calcium, Which Makes Water Hard.

Why Not Have It Tested? Your County Health Dept. Should Be Able To Tell You Where To Take It. Here In Fla. The County Will Come Out And Draw The Sample For $15.00 And Then It Is Additional $15.00 For Each Way You Want It Tested- Like Minerals, Bacteria, Toxins, Sodium. Or You Can Save By Taking It In Yourself- To The Place The Health Dept. Recommends. The Price Of Gas....might Be Cheaper To Have Them Do It.

BobK · #5 10/21/05, 10:48 PM

I'd bet on hard water also....FYI our water is abotu 600 ppm in calcium carbonate equivalents....that's a bunch...it is a nusiance...especially when your hot water heater fills up with 'rocks'........we perservere without a water softner but I know I ahve to deal with the problems from the hard water.....a little vinegar when scrubbing the pots will work wonders...

Explorer · #6 10/22/05, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momanto

It Is Probably Calcium, Which Makes Water Hard.

If you have this problem, don't forget to flush your water heater on a regular basis. Saves on heating costs and early replacement costs.

mtn bluet · #7 10/22/05, 11:32 AM

Wow, a person learns somehthing new everyday!

We were told that due to the hard water, we would have to replace the water heater every few years. Would flushing it actually help on this?
Also, how do you do this?

Thanks!

Explorer · #8 10/22/05, 12:37 PM

It is very easy. There is a little valve near the bottom of the tank (on the side) with garden hose threads. Hook your hose to this valve, run the other end outside or into a non-septic tank drain and turn on the valve. At first there should be sediment coming out that you can see. When it runs clear turn off the valve and you are done. Depending when you flushed it last, there may be a lot of sediment.

thedonkeyman · #9 10/22/05, 12:49 PM

BIG caves have those long LIMESTONE TEETH also, HA! It could be LIME, put in a BIG inline FILTER and change it often. You can build one out of that new plastic pipe,install a shut off valve, then go with a large T, them drop a pipe down with a screw cap on the bottom. Thats all those inline filters are, but they have a filter inside. Install this before your hot water tank an another before your pressure tank. Then again filter your drinking water. Also have some one come out with G counter and check for radiation. Better to be SAFE than SORRY.

BobK · #10 10/22/05, 01:42 PM

What is lime? Calcium carbonate maybe? Particulate filter will not remove it...you need a ion exchange system to remove the 'hard' water ions...

Beeman · #11 10/22/05, 02:24 PM

I live in an area that has similar problems even with city water. The deposits will ruin everything in your water system over time. A coffee maker is usually one of the first things to give problems. I don't know how much flushing your water heater will help, but it definetly works on them, especially electric ones. They don't recommend the on demand water heaters if you have this water because of clogging of the heater.
I would say that drinking the water would possibly cause kidney stones.

mtn bluet · #12 10/22/05, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

It is very easy. There is a little valve near the bottom of the tank (on the side) with garden hose threads. Hook your hose to this valve, run the other end outside or into a non-septic tank drain and turn on the valve. At first there should be sediment coming out that you can see. When it runs clear turn off the valve and you are done. Depending when you flushed it last, there may be a lot of sediment.

This may be a dumb question but : Is it better to leave the water on when flushing or to turn it off?
Also we have a gas water heater, if that makes any difference.

Explorer · #13 10/22/05, 04:17 PM

All tank water heaters accumulate junk (minerals) in the bottom. When flushing, the idea is to run lots of water through the tank, maybe a couple hundred gallons. I have never thought about the amount of water, just done it until the water run clear - maybe someone else knows. The household water must be ON otherwise you could not flush. This process does not take very long, just a few minutes.

Arborethic · #14 10/22/05, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Explorer

All tank water heaters accumulate junk (minerals) in the bottom. When flushing, the idea is to run lots of water through the tank, maybe a couple hundred gallons. I have never thought about the amount of water, just done it until the water run clear - maybe someone else knows. The household water must be ON otherwise you could not flush. This process does not take very long, just a few minutes.

EX, you're 100% right. Flush until the water runs clear, UNDER PRESSURE! I might also note that it isn't just calcium carbonate (calcium and magnesium combine with bicarbonates, sulfates, chlorides, and nitrates to form salts) that one will be flushing, but when there are water line repairs upstream (happens all the time, city and country), there will be gravel, mud, rocks, etc going into one's hot water heater tank! LOL... Who wants to expend all that energy to heat rocks?

If you turn the water off and flush the tank (electric heaters), then the heating element might fry itself if you forget to turn the electricity to the heater off.

I might also note that the waste material from water softners is almost a toxic waste! It can kill grass, trees, etc.

comfortablynumb · #15 10/22/05, 11:15 PM

Ive had a few badly crushed bones, and a few broken ones..

the bone doctor said those were the best and fastest heal bones hes ever seen.

I attribute it to my calcium limey phosphorus rich hard water.

that whte coating in the pot can dissapear with a little CLR.