Hello,
I have been having issues with calcium chunks in my filters (especially in my kitchen sink, washer, and main shower). It seems to be only happening in the hot water side. My washer only had chunks in the hot water side and nothing in the cold water side. My parents are saying that I need a new hot water heater. My current heater will be 10 years old this summer, as it is the original water heater. Before I go buy a new hot water heater I want to make sure that this is the root of the issue.

What do you think?

Water heater specs:
40 gallon
Heat source: Natural Gas
Age: 10 years in summer of '06

Evinx

I am not a plumber but I think you have a hard water problem. If correct, you need to think about a water softener or water conditioner.

speedball1

I have a different take on your problem. A dip tube is made out of white plastic. This tube mounts under the cold water inlet on the heater and directs the cold water down to the bottom of the tank where it's heated by the flame. When it disintegrates you get hard white particles in the hot water lines. When you roll calcuim between your fingers it will crumble the white plastic will not. Flush the heater out at once. For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by flushing on a regular schedule. let me show you how. Attach a hose to the boiler drain at the bottom of the tank. With the pressure on, open the boiler drain and let it run untill the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white grains,(plastic, lime or calcium carbonate). In your case I suppect a bad dip tube. This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. Do this monthly to keep it clear. Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures. Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back togather the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it. If you find out that it's white plastic instead of calcium and wish to replace it yourself I can walk you through the process. Regards, Tom

labman

If you have any doubt, drop the white stuff in some toilet bowl cleaner. Lime, calcium carbonate, will dissolve completely. Otherwise, follow Tom's instructions exactly.

Even is it is lime, Tom's instructions will flush it out of the tank reducing problems elsewhere and it may not be too late to extend the life of your tank.

mebu99

All the chunks I have run into degenerates in my fingers, and also they dissolve with a little bit of white vinegar. So I think we are dealing with calcium/lime and not plastic. I figure it is MUCH cheaper to just flush out my water heater and see if that fixes the issue.

From you instructions, I gather that I keep the pressure on at the cold side; I attach a hose to the boiler drain and turn on the spigot. Keep the water running until it runs clear. Once it is clear, I turn the water off and clean all the faucets in the house. Am I missing any steps?

PalmMP3

Well, you're missing the part about "Now flush out your hot water lines on ALL fixtures". But other than that, you got it straight. Good luck!

mebu99

I have been reading a couple of sites that recommend that one should turn off the cold inlet to the unit before draining the unit. Should I go ahead and turn it off or leave it on?

http://www.anaheim.net/article.asp?id=1032
http://www.cbnbh2o.com/tips/heater.html
http://www.chilipepperapp.com/flush.htm

speedball1

"I have been reading a couple of sites that recommend that one should turn off the cold inlet to the unit before draining the unit. Should I go ahead and turn it off or leave it on?"

You may shut off the cold water supply to the heater and drain it with a head pressure of a little over 2 PSI or you can leave the cold water on and flush it out with 45 to 50 PSI. Your choice. Regards, tom