Hello everyone,
I really hope someone here can help me.
We bought a house 2 years ago (26 years old), and we are now about to renovate our bathroom. However, we need to solve a problem beforehand that none of the three plumbing professionals who have visited us so far have been able to help with.
We have sand-like deposits (see photos) in many of the aerators and showerheads, and no one can tell us where these deposits are coming from... :-( Aerators can be cleaned relatively easily, but not showerheads. Therefore, we would like to fix the cause before the renovation.
The amount is so significant that we have to clean the aerators every 2-3 weeks.
From my understanding, possible sources could be:
1) Main water supply, meaning the material might be coming from outside
2) Magnetic water conditioner (installed by previous owner, according to the information gathered so far, it doesn’t affect limescale)
3) Pipes
4) Gas boiler
5) Faucets
What we have already done or clarified:
- Unscrewed the filter behind the main water supply and checked the filter element. It was not damaged. Is it possible that something could be damaged in an unseen part of the filter, so water does not pass through the filter element properly?
- Unplugged the water conditioner a week ago. So far, no difference observed
- All plumbers have said that the mostly plastic pipes installed in our house cannot be the cause
- Last weekend, we performed the following test: We placed a large (approx. 50 liters (13 gallons)) transparent plastic container in the bathtub and ran very cold water, then very hot water through the hose without the showerhead for about 20 minutes each. Result: No deposits were visible in the cold water, but a clear amount of sand-like deposits appeared in the container with hot water. For us, this was a strong indication that the boiler might be involved.
- However, Junkers told us by phone today that neither the boiler nor the heat exchanger could be responsible for the deposits. They said if there were that many deposits, the water wouldn’t heat up properly when showering. What should we make of this statement?
- Faucets: With the amount of material we remove, this shouldn’t be the source. The faucets would be falling apart by now. However, it is strange that the aerator in the guest toilet is the only one without such deposits?! Although there we only have cold water!
So, now it’s (hopefully) your turn.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause might be?
Best regards
oetzi
I really hope someone here can help me.
We bought a house 2 years ago (26 years old), and we are now about to renovate our bathroom. However, we need to solve a problem beforehand that none of the three plumbing professionals who have visited us so far have been able to help with.
We have sand-like deposits (see photos) in many of the aerators and showerheads, and no one can tell us where these deposits are coming from... :-( Aerators can be cleaned relatively easily, but not showerheads. Therefore, we would like to fix the cause before the renovation.
The amount is so significant that we have to clean the aerators every 2-3 weeks.
From my understanding, possible sources could be:
1) Main water supply, meaning the material might be coming from outside
2) Magnetic water conditioner (installed by previous owner, according to the information gathered so far, it doesn’t affect limescale)
3) Pipes
4) Gas boiler
5) Faucets
What we have already done or clarified:
- Unscrewed the filter behind the main water supply and checked the filter element. It was not damaged. Is it possible that something could be damaged in an unseen part of the filter, so water does not pass through the filter element properly?
- Unplugged the water conditioner a week ago. So far, no difference observed
- All plumbers have said that the mostly plastic pipes installed in our house cannot be the cause
- Last weekend, we performed the following test: We placed a large (approx. 50 liters (13 gallons)) transparent plastic container in the bathtub and ran very cold water, then very hot water through the hose without the showerhead for about 20 minutes each. Result: No deposits were visible in the cold water, but a clear amount of sand-like deposits appeared in the container with hot water. For us, this was a strong indication that the boiler might be involved.
- However, Junkers told us by phone today that neither the boiler nor the heat exchanger could be responsible for the deposits. They said if there were that many deposits, the water wouldn’t heat up properly when showering. What should we make of this statement?
- Faucets: With the amount of material we remove, this shouldn’t be the source. The faucets would be falling apart by now. However, it is strange that the aerator in the guest toilet is the only one without such deposits?! Although there we only have cold water!
So, now it’s (hopefully) your turn.
Does anyone have any idea what the cause might be?
Best regards
oetzi
D
Doc.Schnaggls21 Apr 2015 14:56Well, if the problem only occurs with hot water (according to your "bucket test"), then the issue can only be in the hot water system – which means it’s either the water heater or the storage tank, unless you have separate pipes for hot and cold water.
Another possibility could be that there are suspended particles in the water that “precipitate” when heated – but you could easily verify this by asking your neighbors. Personally, I consider this option highly unlikely.
Regards,
Dirk
Another possibility could be that there are suspended particles in the water that “precipitate” when heated – but you could easily verify this by asking your neighbors. Personally, I consider this option highly unlikely.
Regards,
Dirk
Alright, we had already suspected this before the call with Junkers. Maybe they just didn’t want to admit that it could be related to their boiler...
By the way, the material is not magnetic.
Is there any way to clean these Raindance showers, or is it possible to install a filter like a strainer in front of the handheld shower? Otherwise, after the bathroom renovation, we might have to replace the expensive overhead shower every few months...
The big question is whether it’s worth replacing the boiler, even though it is technically still working?!
By the way, the material is not magnetic.
Is there any way to clean these Raindance showers, or is it possible to install a filter like a strainer in front of the handheld shower? Otherwise, after the bathroom renovation, we might have to replace the expensive overhead shower every few months...
The big question is whether it’s worth replacing the boiler, even though it is technically still working?!
S
Sebastian7921 Apr 2015 21:51Huh? You need to address the problem – it sounds like you want to just accept it as it is???
First, have the storage tank checked, then you will most likely find the cause – otherwise, it’s the boiler. You will probably have to replace the storage tank; the boiler can likely be repaired.
But you definitely should do something about it – this is not acceptable!
First, have the storage tank checked, then you will most likely find the cause – otherwise, it’s the boiler. You will probably have to replace the storage tank; the boiler can likely be repaired.
But you definitely should do something about it – this is not acceptable!
To clarify: We don’t have any attic storage at all, interestingly, almost everyone comments on that ;-D
Well, why the confusion? It’s certainly annoying to have deposits in the aerators, etc., but as long as it’s not causing any damage, it’s quite expensive to just buy a new boiler; especially in combination with a bathroom renovation.
But if it makes sense, I’m ready to spend the money (already now).
Lexmaul79 schrieb:
Huh? You need to address the issue – it sounds like you’re willing to just accept it???
Well, why the confusion? It’s certainly annoying to have deposits in the aerators, etc., but as long as it’s not causing any damage, it’s quite expensive to just buy a new boiler; especially in combination with a bathroom renovation.
But if it makes sense, I’m ready to spend the money (already now).
S
Sebastian7922 Apr 2015 09:52Is the boiler a tankless water heater without a storage tank?
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