Restricted flow in copper pipes, iron buildup

[Doc_Bob]

Along the lines of chlorination. I have iron sulfate bacteria. Results in sulfur smell. I fix it by doing a twice a year shocking of well with cholorox. Buy a fresh 1 1/2 gallon bottle (do not store, it loses it potency) and mix into 5 gallon pail. Then, with well cap off and water running into well from a hose, I slowly poor the 5 gallons of diluted chlorox down the well. Then, using a pool testing strip, wait until chlorine arrives at each outlet. I do this before I go on a several day trip with the family. I let it sit for a week, then when we get home, my wife does all the whites and lets the residual bleach help with the laundry. The chlorine leaves the system and my water is smell free for months and months. Then, in the Fall, we go on another trip, and repeat the process.

My brtoher, who works for a sewage treatment plant tells me that the chlorox will not harm my septic. He indicates there is so much solid in the septic, that residual chlorine won't bother my septic.

Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

Along the lines of chlorination. I have iron sulfate bacteria. Results in sulfur smell. I fix it by doing a twice a year shocking of well with cholorox. Buy a fresh 1 1/2 gallon bottle (do not store, it loses it potency) and mix into 5 gallon pail. Then, with well cap off and water running into well from a hose, I slowly poor the 5 gallons of diluted chlorox down the well. Then, using a pool testing strip, wait until chlorine arrives at each outlet. I do this before I go on a several day trip with the family. I let it sit for a week, then when we get home, my wife does all the whites and lets the residual bleach help with the laundry. The chlorine leaves the system and my water is smell free for months and months. Then, in the Fall, we go on another trip, and repeat the process.

My brtoher, who works for a sewage treatment plant tells me that the chlorox will not harm my septic. He indicates there is so much solid in the septic, that residual chlorine won't bother my septic.

Bob

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Mark,
As the others have stated, if you havent allready, get some one to do a water analysis for you. This will give you useful info on how much above or below your water is in all categories. If you need a filter system, they use these figures in determining what system is right for you. I have very bad iron in the well at my Ct house. Without a iron filter and softener, all my white clothes would be ruined along with all my toilets and sinks, dishwasher icemaker etc. You get the picture. Iron is not harmful to you but certainly a nuisance !

I have never known iron to constrict your pipes, I believe that is another mineral. Which one slips my mind. As someone else suggested, you could chlorinate your well if you had a bacteria condition, and pressurize your pipes with the chlorinated water and try and clean them out that way. I really think it all starts with a good water test and talking with a water specialist for further treatment info.

As far as the outdoor fawcets go, have you just tried running them for awhile ?

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Mark,
As the others have stated, if you havent allready, get some one to do a water analysis for you. This will give you useful info on how much above or below your water is in all categories. If you need a filter system, they use these figures in determining what system is right for you. I have very bad iron in the well at my Ct house. Without a iron filter and softener, all my white clothes would be ruined along with all my toilets and sinks, dishwasher icemaker etc. You get the picture. Iron is not harmful to you but certainly a nuisance !

I have never known iron to constrict your pipes, I believe that is another mineral. Which one slips my mind. As someone else suggested, you could chlorinate your well if you had a bacteria condition, and pressurize your pipes with the chlorinated water and try and clean them out that way. I really think it all starts with a good water test and talking with a water specialist for further treatment info.

As far as the outdoor fawcets go, have you just tried running them for awhile ?

 

[MarkLeininger]

Thanks for all the ideas.
I had the water tested when I installed a water conditioning system when I bought the house. There was no bacteria and the iron content was only 4ppm, well within what the conditioner could handle. There was iron staining on the fixtures, but there isn't now that my wife scrubbed it all off. I've opened a few of the lines, once to put an addition on the house, once to add a line for non softened drinking water at the sink. Both times this iron "stuff" was obvious in the original piping.

I've found a few articles on the web, both indicate that you can open the lines and run compressed air through for awhile to dry out the deposits, then turn on the water to flush out the powder. Barring better ideas, that costs no money and is rather easy to do so I think I'll try it.

 

[MarkLeininger]

Thanks for all the ideas.
I had the water tested when I installed a water conditioning system when I bought the house. There was no bacteria and the iron content was only 4ppm, well within what the conditioner could handle. There was iron staining on the fixtures, but there isn't now that my wife scrubbed it all off. I've opened a few of the lines, once to put an addition on the house, once to add a line for non softened drinking water at the sink. Both times this iron "stuff" was obvious in the original piping.

I've found a few articles on the web, both indicate that you can open the lines and run compressed air through for awhile to dry out the deposits, then turn on the water to flush out the powder. Barring better ideas, that costs no money and is rather easy to do so I think I'll try it.

 

[anthonyk]

Doc, I would advise against doing that.
Pouring straight chlorine down your well can cause major problems.
Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is a fairly powerful oxidizing agent and can destroy gaskets, pump seals, motor parts, etc.
Also, you will not have sufficient contact time to have a lasting effect.
A better solution would be a holding tank (usually 100 to 200 gallons) and a chlorination injection system.
You'll use the same bleach you buy at the store, and you'll get much better residual contact time with the water.
You'll also avoid damaging your well pump or parts.
I'm an engineer for a water purification company.
Hope it helps,
Anthony

 

[anthonyk]

Doc, I would advise against doing that.
Pouring straight chlorine down your well can cause major problems.
Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is a fairly powerful oxidizing agent and can destroy gaskets, pump seals, motor parts, etc.
Also, you will not have sufficient contact time to have a lasting effect.
A better solution would be a holding tank (usually 100 to 200 gallons) and a chlorination injection system.
You'll use the same bleach you buy at the store, and you'll get much better residual contact time with the water.
You'll also avoid damaging your well pump or parts.
I'm an engineer for a water purification company.
Hope it helps,
Anthony

 

[dmp437]

Where I grew up we had severe iron problems so we got a water softener which was placed about 30 feet from the well pump. Every few years we would undo the three piece couplings we installed in that line and run a 12 gauge bore brush hooked to a fish tape and clean the rust out. The three piece couplings allowed us to remove a 24" section for cleanout purposes. Once you had scrubbed for a bit you turn the pump on to flush and catch the results in a 5 gallon pail.

 

[dmp437]

Where I grew up we had severe iron problems so we got a water softener which was placed about 30 feet from the well pump. Every few years we would undo the three piece couplings we installed in that line and run a 12 gauge bore brush hooked to a fish tape and clean the rust out. The three piece couplings allowed us to remove a 24" section for cleanout purposes. Once you had scrubbed for a bit you turn the pump on to flush and catch the results in a 5 gallon pail.