Calcium in pipes? (plumbing)

Richard · Jan 24, 2001

Couple of weeks ago, my shower went quickly from warm to lukewarm (using FULL hot, NO cold). /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif I correctly presumed the breaker broke. Flipped it, problem continued. Ok, so now I have at one bad element.

For kicks, you might get a chuckle to know the dude at plumbing supply told me I didn't need to empty tank. Just be prepared for a "bloop" of water to come out like a water bottle and swap my element. Ok, I can do that (Tim Allen sounds about now). What he DIDN'T tell me is that when I remove my old element, I should FIRST remove the replacement one from it's TOUGH TOUGH shrink wrapped wrapper DOH!!! /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop ad nauseaum. I couldln't get it back in for my frustration so I finally plugged hole with two fingers and dealt with wrapper with my free hand and teeth. I figure I blooped about 2 or 3 gallons out before I plugged it.

Ok, so embarassement aside, I had some calcium buildup on my element that might have been part of the reason it burnt through. (not even 3 years old yet)

My question and main concern, is...if I have that kind of calcium running around in my water heater, is/can it build up in my water pipes or does it tend to stick (no pun intended) to the water heater?

If buildup is a concern for pipes, is it ALL pipes? Maybe only pipes carrying hot water from heater?

Would a simple water softener fix the problem?

Thanks for any thoughts.
(by the way, what I'm NOT including here is during the blooping of the water essentially in my lap /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, I had a plugged in power strip beside heater/myself that I hadn't paid any attention to. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Thankfully, I instantly saw it and understood my situation and was able to unplug it.)

Next time...I'll just drain the dang thing...

Harv · Jan 24, 2001

Richard -

I don't know the answer to the calcium thing, but I wanted to thank you for posting that story. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I'm sure it's comforting to a lot of us to know that we're not alone in the land of bloopers (not to be confused with your actual "bloops"). Next time I'm cleaning out the trap under the sink and pour the drained water back into the sink, I will think of you and your water heater. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

And you managed to bring in both Tim Allen and Homer Simpson -- both role models of mine. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

rekees · Jan 24, 2001

Richard

>>Would a simple water softener fix the problem?<<
Based on my experience, I'd say the answer is yes. Had the same problems as you and a water conditioner solved them all. Got a Kinetico 13 years ago and have had zero problems with it. More expensive than most but you get what you pay for. Operates based on water usage and not a timer. Uses no electricity. http://www.kinetico.com/residntl/top_prod.htm

Chuck in IN

ERNIEB · Jan 24, 2001

Richard, I have been told that calcium will build up in metal pipes, but not in pvc or cpvc. From used pipe I have seen that seems to be true.
Also from what I've seen, hot water pipes build up more than cold water.
Because most of the water in our area comes from a limestone aquafer, it's hard and has a lot of calcuim in it. Water softners are big sellers, the salt can be found in most grocery stores. I've never had one, but have been told that they will not totally prevent build up in pipes. but will greatly reduce it.

Ernie
"I go whole hog in the cause for Texas"
Micajah Autry Jan. 1836 (in a letter to his wife)

Bird · Jan 24, 2001

Richard, I don't know anything that would help you, but you sure started my day off right this morning; with a good laugh./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

ronjhall · Jan 24, 2001

Richard: A water softener will help a lot. When I purchased the house, I live in 30 years ago it had an electric water heat. It finally quit working. It must have weight over 300 pounds./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif It was full of calcium. I put a gas water heater and a water softener in. At the same time, I found that the galvanized pipes that had been used to hook up the water heater were almost plugged with calcium. I have replaced all galvanized pipes in the house with either PVC or copper. Some older homes in Detroit have had to replace all the galvanized pipes. The city water systems are softened and chlorinated. I have a well. About 4 years ago, I replaced my water softener with a dual brine tank unit. Each tank will run about 700 gallons of water before it needs to be regenerated. When it needs to be regenerated, it automatically switches over to the tank that has already been regenerated. It also uses softened water to regenerate. Many of the single brine tanks only regenerate at 2:00 am. You may be using unsoftened water for the whole day before it regenerates the brine. In the area where I live, we have a lot of iron in the water. By using red out salt, the iron can be eliminated. However, if a softener needs recharging for a whole day the red line will start to show up in the toilet bowl.
You didn't mention if you had a well and galvanized pipes. However, both of these items will cause a water heater to fail. When the calcium builds up on the element, it can't let the heat out to the water. The element then runs hotter than it was design to. Defiantly get a softener. Your wife will enjoy the softened water for washing cloths, and taking baths. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifThen you may not want to be drinking water with salt in it. Therefore, you will need to install a reverse osmosis distiller for your drinking and cooking water. Also, install a whole house filter to remove as many impurities as can be removed./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Oh did I mention that all of this stuff will cost 2 arms and a leg./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

ronh/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

cowboydoc · Jan 24, 2001

My father-in-law drills wells and he has these magnet deals that you put on the pipe coming out of your well that doesn't allow the minerals to come through. It acts as a water softener but without the cost.

znla · Jan 24, 2001

calcium is inversily souble in water which means the hotter the water more calcium will percipitate out. we have 40 2000 ton chillers at the plant site i work at and we are very diligent in monitoring the calcium and other disolved soileds in our condensor water systems.
Rusty

Richard · Jan 25, 2001

RonH,

I have one of the "Mothers of all wells" at 100 gallons/minute (father in law & uncle in law 400 feet away have roughly 11 and 3 gal/minute wells!!) I have a basic whole house filter immediately after my pressure tank and room for other filtration stuff (if and as needed) in utility room

40 gal electric heater that started with two 5500 watt elements. Lower one burnt and is replaced with 4500 watt. House is all copper pipe.

BTW, the lower element is the one that I replaced, which means when the blooping started, I had 40 gallons of trouble blooping me strainght in the eye /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

You brought up an interesting idea to me... if you use a conditioner, does that make your water in effect...salt water? So, when the laundry is done, ice is made, showers are had...it is all with salt

water?

blech!!!

I suppose one problem gets a solution that begets another problem that needs yet another solution??? Guess that is the similar conundrum of a tractor? Have tractor, need box blade. Have box blade, need top n tilt, have tnt, need hyd scarifiers...

Richard · Jan 25, 2001

CowboyDoc...

I'm not sure I can believe you might be a physician...'cause I can read your signature! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I have heard about these magnet things. In fact, when I was a kid, my mother bought one for our house. I can't say that I ever noticed any real difference. We did however, have good water there to begin with.

I recently dismantled two computer hard drives. (in search of the magnets as per ChalkeyCup conversations). In the two drives, I've obtained a total of three magnets. I am simply AMAZED at how strong they are when facing each other. Put them back to back and it is as though they are simply pieces of metal, no attraction or repulsion... Anyway, long winded words leading me to wonder if THESE on my pipes would do anything (presuming that magnets in fact, DO, do something)?

Richard