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dayanara1785 · Nov 28, 2012, 01:27 AM

I have been noticing rust on my stainless steel sink and 18/10 silverware. I called a plumer who drained my water heater and noticed rust and sediment inside. We replaced the water heater to be safe. Being only five year old rheem I was surprised. Although the rust problem is not eliminated I see some improvement. I am still having the rainbow streaks on my silverware that won't come off. Even my clear glass have these circular film spot on them that can't get off. I decided to check the filters on my sinks and noticed some pink on the kitchen filter, redish sediment in one bathroom faucet filter. In the second bathroom I found black, white, and sandish sediment just fall out as soon as I Removed the filter. My house is 57 years old with copper pipes. Please help I have two small children and am very concerned.

Thanks,
Rosi

joypulv · Nov 28, 2012, 04:10 AM

Have your water tested, the usual test. Are you on town water or a well?

I bought a house 6 months ago with a well in an area of extremely high calcium and magnesium, the usual 'hard water' minerals. Just boiling water leaves a white film that I can rub and it leaves grayish white stuff on my fingers. If I leave it, it calcifies. Even a drop of water on a surface turns to a white dot. The water test was off the charts in the hardness quotient.

Water heaters in hard water areas don't last long, although you can have just the element replaced, which is what calcifies and oxidizes. It sounds like you also have high iron content, also measured in the water test. It isn't bad for you, but your plumbing will suffer, and faucets will clog (replace the screens often).

You could have a water softener installed. They require maintenance too. You could buy a filter for each faucet (not the little screen, a filter the size of an orange), or a whole house filter that is installed at the source and has a cartridge that you replace as needed. That way if you have a dishwasher your dishes won't have so much film and rust spots. And your shower/baths will be more free of all these metals and minerals.

Your second bath probably had some old debris sitting in the screen, and I wouldn't worry about it. If some plumbing had been done it probably sent debris out that couldn't get past the screen.

I meant to distinguish between a water softener and a water filter. A filter is for chemicals like chlorine, and possibly the iron, depending on the unit you buy.
A softener removes minerals, but puts sodium (salt) into your water, so you might want a kitchen faucet for drinking water that isn't softened.

speedball1 · Nov 28, 2012, 07:22 AM

We replaced the water heater to be safe.

@Well first off this was a needless expense. Had you followed normal maintenance and flushed your heater on a regular schedule you wouldn't have had a rust problem. In case you don't know how to maintain your new heater let me show you how.

For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule.

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 until the water runs clear. You will see a spurt of red,(rust) followed by white or yellow 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 that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it.

I decided to check the filters on my sinks and noticed some pink on the kitchen filter,

By "filter" do you mean the aerator on the end of the spout?

I am still having the rainbow streaks on my silverware

Sounds like oil film to me. Have your water tested and let me known the results, Good luck, Tom

dayanara1785 · Nov 28, 2012, 11:34 AM

Yes. By filter I mean arator. What is film that can be making these marks on my stainless steel? Should I install a whole house filter and water softner because they are big and I am not sure that both would fit in my laundry room. I was thinking that maybe changing my copper pipes to pex would help. I hate to spend all that money to continue to have the same problem. Most of the companies I call to test my water are water softner companies that are limited on what they test for. I know my water is very hard already.

speedball1 · Nov 28, 2012, 11:47 AM

Most of the companies I call to test my water are water softner companies that are limited on what they test for. I know my water is very hard already.

WRONG WAY TO GO! You want your water tested by The Health Department. Of course these other companies are going to see you their product. You've never said but you are on a well aren't you?

What is film that can be making these marks on my stainless steel?

I addressed that in my last post. The rust is coming from an heater that hasn't been flushed or maintained . As for the rainbow stains oil would cause that and that is why I urge you to have your water tested ASAP. Good luck, Tom

joypulv · Nov 28, 2012, 12:31 PM

Film can be oil but it can also just be the usual minerals, and you aren't using dish washing products specifically for hard water.

dayanara1785 · Nov 28, 2012, 12:53 PM

I am on city water not well water.

I just read on the internet to use a magic erasor on my stainless steel silverware to remove the rainbow marks and it worked well so far.

Do you still think it could be oil?

I did have one spoon rust after I changed the water heater can it be sediment left behind in my pipe after I changed the water heater. My plumer said it was all new hot water. Is it possible that asediment from my old water heater could be lingering in my pipe.

I am having my plumer install a whole house filter but I am still debating on the water softner because I am limited on space. I wonder which one is more important.

I am having a hard time finding water testing company.

joypulv · Nov 28, 2012, 01:11 PM

Yes there can be sediment left.
Where do you live?
Purwater.com has a map of water analysis of major metropolitan areas.

I really think a filter isn't going to help much without the softener as well, and some companies sell a package deal.
If you have hard water, a softener will add years to the life of your plumbing.

There are filters for sediments and filters for contaminants like chlorine and lead.
Some attach to your cold water main, some to the hot only, some are under sink.
Try Pelican.

Yes it gets confusing, and I'm going through it myself, and just spent 2K on a propane tankless heater and a no-salt no-electric softener.

dayanara1785 · Nov 28, 2012, 01:57 PM

Thank you Joy.
I am exchangng my whole house filtration for a softner. The softner may be more beneficial for my situation. I also just bought this house a year ago. I already have had to change sewer pipes , etc.
Did you experience rust from your old water heater as well?

Maybe I should do a undersink filter as well for cooking.

joypulv · Nov 28, 2012, 04:00 PM

No rust. I have a well. You may be getting rust from the large old city water pipes. You may need a filter too, at the water main before it goes to anything!
If you have outside spigots, run a gallon into a clear glass container and peer at it. That might not be enough though; you really need to find a water testing company. Call the City Public Works or Water Dept if there is one.

speedball1 · Nov 29, 2012, 08:30 AM

OK Joy, Since I got no response from my post and you seem to want this thread it's all yours. I'm out of here. Tom

joypulv · Nov 29, 2012, 11:28 AM

TOM PLEASE DON'T GO! I am a novice myself!
Too late to not replace her water heater, it's done. Maybe she was just discouraged by that. Maybe I took over. I'm sorry.

I'm in the middle of confusion myself. Bought house 6 months ago, high electric bills from electric 80 gallon water heater in very hard water area, old softener that doesn't work no matter what, don't feel like having it fixed and dealing with dubious maintenance so I ordered an expensive no salt one, not electric, and an expensive on-demand propane water heater. GULP

dayanara1785 · Nov 29, 2012, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

@Well first off this was a needless expense. Had you followed normal maintenance and flushed your heater on a regular schedule you wouldn't have had a rust problem. In case you don't know how to maintain your new heater let me show you how.

For long life and fewer troubles you should keep your heater clear of mineral build-up by FLUSHING NOT DRAINING on a regular schedule.

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 or yellow 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 that are affected . Now pull each aerator and clean the screens. Be sure you put them back together the same way you took them out. Don't forget to flush it out every month. Your heater will thank you for it.
By "filter" do you mean the aerator on the end of the spout?
Sounds like oil film to me. Have your water tested and let me known the results,. Good luck, Tom

Sorry speed ball I am new to this. I appreciate it. I was just happy to find someone that had the same experience

dayanara1785 · Nov 29, 2012, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by dayanara1785

Sorry speed ball I am new to this. I appreciate it. I was just happy to find someone that had the same experiance

Thank you for taking the time to explain the difference between flushing and draining.

[QUOTE=speedball1;3335924]OK Joy, Since I got no response from my post and you seem to want this thread it's all yours. I'm out of here. Tom[/QUOTE
I have never on one of theses sites before. I am sorry please.

speedball1 · Nov 29, 2012, 03:34 PM

Hey guys! I'm not mad or feel like I've been ignored I figured Joy was doing such a good job and you were responding that you all wouldn't mind if I pulled out. The rust I addressed but what concerns me is the "rainbow shine" on your silverware. This tells men that you may have some petroleum product in your water. Any new faucets of fixtures installed lately? I don't know of any mineral besides oil that would leave a rainbow sheen. I realize it's city water but I would get The City Health Department out to test your water. I would have it tested in two places. At the meter and at your kitchen sink.
My company installed stainless steel sinks in all of our installations. When I was out on warranty repair and got a complaint about a discolored sink there was always one product that took that sink back to pristine, like new. Condition. Get a can of Cameo Aluminum and Stainless Steel Cleaner. I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression. Just trying to get out of Joys way. Hugs? Tom

joypulv · Nov 29, 2012, 03:57 PM

Tom is the top plumber on this site.
I am DIYer in the middle of dealing with water-related matters for the first time in my life, except for very old tankless-off-the-boiler. I'm still trying to figure out why people put in 'post hot water filters' for sediments, as well as softeners. (But this is dayanara's thread.)

speedball1 · Nov 29, 2012, 04:23 PM

Tom is the top plumber on this site.

I really wish that I was. Truth be told each one of our plumbing experts has special knowledge and training that he brings to the table. I'm just senior because I got here first and not because I'm "top" in anything. But thanks for those kind words. The guys I work with are what makes this one of the top Plumbing Q&A sites on the web. Cheers, Tom

joypulv · Nov 29, 2012, 05:48 PM

I thought I read that, Tom. Didn't mean to exclude all the other fine guys. You are all the BEST of anywhere! And the electricians! And the builders!

dayanara1785 · Nov 29, 2012, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Hey guys! I'm not mad or feel like I've been ignored I figured Joy was doing such a good job and you were responding that you all wouldn't mind if I pulled out. The rust I addressed but what concerns me is the "rainbow shine" on your silverware. This tells men that you may have some petroleum product in your water. Any new faucets of fixtures installed lately? I don't know of any mineral besides oil that would leave a rainbow sheen. I realize it's city water but I would get The City Health Department out to test your water. I would have it tested in two places. At the meter and at your kitchen sink.
My company installed stainless steel sinks in all of our installations. When I was out on warrenty repair and got a complaint about a discolored sink there was always one product that took that sink back to pristine, like new. condition. Get a can of Cameo Aluminum and Stainless Steel Cleaner. I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression. Just trying to get outta Joys way. Hugs?? Tom

Yes. We installed a new kitchen faucet when we remodeled the kitchen along with the new sink. The plumer changed the pipes under the sink when he installed the new faucet and sink. Thabks again any help is greatly apprecited.

speedball1 · Nov 30, 2012, 09:27 AM

We installed a new kitchen faucet

There might be some oil residue left in the faucet from the factory causing the rainbow streaks. If running the faucet doesn't clear things up in time then I'd open up the faucet and pour bleach all the way through the valve, spout and aerator while soaking the cartridge. Good luck and purchase some Cameo for your sink. Good luck, Tom