After a plumber fixed the dripping shower, I now have what looks like tiny little leaves sticking out they're the size of a herb like sage. I removed them now they've come back. What are they where come from and did the plumber remove a sediment screen or something.

Are you on municipal water system or a well? What color is the sediment? How long since you flushed your water heater?

Municipal. I'm renting the house. Been here for 18 months. It's not sediment its like loose plant matter small enough to come through the holes in the shower head I haven't flushed the water heater yet this year.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

Are you on municipal water system or a well? What color is the sediment? How long since you flushed your water heater?

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Municipal. Its loose plant like herbs tiny enough to stick through the showerhead holes. I haven't flushed the hot water system this year.

What color?
On municipal water system three things come to mind. One is rust if you have iron pipes. Second is deteriorated dip tube in water heater. Third is mineral deposits if you are in a hard water area.
Rust should be obvious. Mineral deposits would build up on valves and in pipe but should not be loose. Deteriorated dip tube would be granulated and shards of plastic.

Suspect deteriorated dip tube. Flush water heater and look for signs of the substance you see in shower head. Probably have to filter water out of the heater drain with some kind of cloth to see.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

What color?
On municipal water system three things come to mind. One is rust if you have iron pipes. Second is deteriorated dip tube in water heater. Third is mineral deposits if you are in a hard water area.
Rust should be obvious. Mineral deposits would build up on valves and in pipe but should not be loose. Deteriorated dip tube would be granulated and shards of plastic.

Suspect deteriorated dip tube. Flush water heater and look for signs of the substance you see in shower head. Probably have to filter water out of the heater drain with some kind of cloth to see.

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Thanks will try that.

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Originally Posted by viando

Thanks will try that.

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I attempted to flush the HWS but only drips came out. On closer inspection, the sediment coming out of the showerhead appears to look like slivers of rust. It doesn't come out of the kitchen tap as I have a strainer over the plughole. My house inspection is in a couple of weeks so I can discuss with agent. I rent a house built in the 1950s and there are constant problems with plumbing. Leaking, dripping. Almost have entire pipes replaced .I believe before I moved in the house hadn't been lived in for a while. I don't know how old the HWS is, but it's been repaired once. I intend to buy a new shower head and equip it with a water filter. They've introduced chlorine to the water supply here. Tastes horrible and causes skin irritation. I will also invest in a water filter for the kitchen. PS I live in coastal rural Australia.

Suggest you remove the aerator (plughole) on kitchen faucet and see is there are signs of the same substance there.

Sounds like you attempted drain the water heater rather than flush it out. Draining is when you turn off the cold water input, open the drain valve and a hot water faucet to let the water in the tank drain. You must open a hot water faucet to let air in so the water in the tank can drain out.
Flushing is when you attach hose to the drain valve, leave the cold water input open, and let the force of the water flush out any sediment that has accumulated in the bottom of the tank.

You should flush not drain. If you attempted to drain, you may have not gotten any water out because of sediment or because you didn't open a hot water valve.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

Suggest you remove the aerator (plughole) on kitchen faucet and see is there are signs of the same substance there.

Sounds like you attempted drain the water heater rather than flush it out. Draining is when you turn off the cold water input, open the drain valve and a hot water faucet to let the water in the tank drain. You must open a hot water faucet to let air in so the water in the tank can drain out.
Flushing is when you attach hose to the drain valve, leave the cold water input open, and let the force of the water flush out any sediment that has accumulated in the bottom of the tank.

You should flush not drain. If you attempted to drain, you may have not gotten any water out because of sediment or because you didn't open a hot water valve.

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Thanks for your help but this is beyond me. The HWS valve isn't releasing any water, kitchen tap will probably start dripping soon. And the flushing job is not something I could attempt, nor expected as a renter. Time for the agent to call back the plumber. The plumbing in this house is ancient and problems have popped up everywhere. Thanks again.

That is the proper thing to do for renters, call the landlord.

I agree time to call the owners but it helps to have some idea of what is happening to relate to plumber.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

I agree time to call the owners but it helps to have some idea of what is happening to relate to plumber.

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Absolutely agree. And to tell the landlord exactly what's wrong. I'm getting used to the plumber he's an okay guy. He'll probably end up redoing all the plumbing
All the best