About a month ago we noticed our faucets were getting clogged up with calcium only for the hot water. So we flushed out the water heater and it did not help. The water heater was old and the water was not very hot so we finally replaced the water heater and everything was fine for about a week but now we are seeing a return of the calcium and it is clogging the faucets up again. How can I get rid of this problem?

speedball1

I need to know more about these calcium bits you're finding in your hot water. Can you break them up by rubbing them between your fingers or are they hard white bits? It sounds like this came on all of a sudden. Did it? Do you flush your heater on a regular schedule? if so, how often? I'll wait on your reply. Cheers, Tom

Brandgirls

Theses calcium bits are hard and white they do break apart however. We would flush out the water heater about every 3 months. But we just put a new heater in 2 weeks ago. Yes this did come on suddenly. Our house was built in 1977 we have copper piping. We are on city water. Not sure if we need to get a water softner or not don't know if that will help the problem. Should I try to flush the water heater out now?

speedball1

I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that I'm sure that calcium isn't your problem. The bad news is that from your complaint it sounds like you have a plastic dip tube in your water heater that's gone bad. The dip tube is a white plastic tube that sets right below the cold water inlet and directs the cold water to the bottom of the tank to be heated and raise to the top. When it goes bad hard white particles show up in your water lines and a rapid loss of hot water. If it were calcium you could squeeze the particles and have them turn to mush.
The solution is to clean all the aerator screens and flush out the system. It's also a good idea to put your new heater on a monthly maintenance 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,(lime or calcium carbonate). 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. Good luck, Tom

Brandgirls

Thanks for your help. I just took apart my faucet and cleaned the screens and found one of the white particules. They seem hard at first but when I press it in my fingers it doesn't turn mushy like a powder almost so I am thinking it must be calcium. I don't know how to get this out of my water supply. I drained the heater and no white pieces came out. All the hoses and nipples to the heater have been replaced when we replaced the water heater so I'm not sure if this is something that might of been stuck in the line or in the pipe somewhere. I will try to clean out all my faucets and the line to them and see if this helps. Thanks Again

ejj88

MY guess would be that either the old HWH had a dip tube that was all diminished and was pushing through all the water lines. You then replaced with a new HWH but the lines were not flushed completely and then these particles are still coming throughout to all the faucets. -OR- Like mentioned by the ever so helpful speedball, the dip tube in the new HWH has broken and is sending the particles throughout the lines and to your faucets.
If it the later, then try getting the dip tube replaced. If it is the first scenario, then try flushing the lines as best you can by taking off the screens and running the hot water for some time on each of the faucets. After some time the particles will go away. This is my experience that I just recently had.
There are better ways to flush you entire water system but takes more time. You can search for the steps to this on this forum.
Hope this helps...just wanted to to add my experience.

Brandgirls

Thanks for your help. I will do as you said and remove all the screens and run the hot water. I think it is from the old water heater because the white peices are less and not as big so I will try to flush out what is left in the lines. Thanks again!

search4datruth

The description of these white pellots is exactly what I'm experiencing, only I do NOT have a hot water tank. I replaced my hot water tank once it went out with a tankless water heater, and THEN the white peices started showing up. The water heater came up with a "scalling on heat exchanger" messege, so I called the plumber that installed it, and he flushed out the tankless hotwater system. After it was flushed out, the hot water works a whole lot better, but I still have peices of white "stuff" come out of the sink. The plumber had no idea where the white stuff was coming from.
Now, here is the really strange part - I ONLY have this problem in 1 bathroom!!! Both the sink and the shower. The kitchen, and master bathroom are both fine.

Somone please save me from my stupid plumber!!!