There is a marked Blue-green stain that develops in the shower stall, less so in the kitchen and bathroom sinks. I'm assuming it is a reaction triggered by the hot water. I'm also asking not just because it requires more cleaning, but my hairdresser says that it also creates a layer on my hair! What causes it, what is it doing to the pipes, and would any of the shower filters work to decrease the amount coming through? We're on well water and have an inline sediment filter in place.

Thanks,
Megdvm

Hi Meg,
How old is your house? Copper pipes? Any work done on them lately? Do you flush your water heater on a regular basis? You may have mineral build up that's entering your pipes. Waiting on you. Tom

Thanks for replying, Tom,

No recent work has been done on the plumbing that connects with this issue. The house is 55 years old, does have copper pipes, and we use a water source heat pump that we put in 16 years ago. We've been in it 28 years and in my memory this didn't always happen so maybe it links to that event. The hot water heater is electric with the heat pump cycling warmed water through it every time it runs, decreasing the frequency that the heating element turns on. My husband says it is constantly being flushed by this action. Previously, we used a oil fired hot water heater.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Meg

Hey Meg,
I was wondering if solder flux,( That's the color it turns)from a recent repair could have got in the system but you shot that down. So let's look else where.
"The hot water heater is electric with the heat pump cycling warmed water through it every time it runs, decreasing the frequency that the heating element turns on. My husband says it is constantly being flushed by this action."

I hate to bust hubbys chops but that's not correct. Since the water system's a closed system all you're doing is recycling everything. Let me show you how to flush your heater.
First attach a hose to the boiler drain and open up the valve. With the pressure let it run until it runs clear. You may see a spurt of red,(iron oxide) or some white or yellow grains, ( sulfur or calcium carbonate) when the water runs clear then you're done. This shouldn't take more then a few minutes. I would also check the house filter. Let me know. Tom

Hey Meg,
I was wondering if solder flux,( That's the color it turns)from a recent repair could have got in the system but you shot that down. So let's look else where.

This almost sounds like a pH problem, even mildly acidic water can lead to corrosion in brass and copper fittings, pipe and fixtures -- And 'blue green' staining is indicative of copper and/or brass corrosion.

Check this (http://www.advancedh2o.com/products/brochures_html/rural/neutralizer.html) out.