Substance coming out of bath water?

Question

Just finished rehabbing a house. Tenant moved in over the weekend. I received a text tonight from the tenant with a picture of what is coming out of the bath tub. Looks like chalk/sand from what I can tell. You cant really tell until the tub is emptied, this stuff is left. Anybody have any ideas? So the house has been sitting empty for 4 or 5 months. Maybe something in the hot water heater that needs to be flushed out? If I knew how to load the photo, I would.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Jon Holdman · Answer

A warning from real experience here. Performance is not an indicator of the immenent failure of a hot water heater. I was sitting at my computer a couple of years ago and heard water trickling. I though I had failed to properly close our front loading washer and it was dripping. I ran out there, but nothing. Still heard water. Turned around the water was gushing out the top of the water heater. Huge mess. But I caught it soon after it started leaking. My parents weren't so lucky. They were out of town when theirs started leaking. Before they returned the floors were severely damaged. The water pooled under one end of the house and caused the foundation to sink into the ground by several inches.

To me, a failed water heater is a bigger concern than a plugged drain or running toilet. They fail suddenly and with no notice.

To me, a failed water heater is a bigger concern than a plugged drain or running toilet.  They fail suddenly and with no notice.

Shawn Thom · Answer

Anybody ever use one of these to prevent hot water heater leak damage?

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/p-481-fs-34-npt-floodstop-system-for-water-heaters.aspx?affiliateid=10050&wm_ctID=359&wm_kwID=21942114&wm_mtID=1&wm_DefaultURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.homesecuritystore.com%2f&source=pla&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

John W. · Answer

thanks Jon for the reply. The more research I have done, I beleive this is the issue. I have asked the tenant to run the water to see if it improves, but i also plan on going by and doing as you suggested with the water hose to flush the water heater. it appears to not be "too old", but i will need to keep an eye on the performence.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Sediment does build up in water heaters, especially if you have hard water in your area.  Draining the water heater completely may help.  Hook up a hose, shut off the inlet, open the drain, open a few hot water faucets and wait a while.  If you see gunk coming out, especially as it finishes draining, you've found the problem.  When it finishes, turn on the inlet and let that run for a bit to try to flush remaining loose stuff out.  Probably want to budget for a new one, if its really bad.  Water heaters can fail suddenly, making a big mess in the process.

John W. · Answer

I don't know about the galvanized pipes. I don't believe this is the issue as this house was built in the 70's, but I'm not too sure. Thanks for the replies. I asked them to run both hot and cold water for a bit to see if it flushes it out. If not, I will tend to it tomorrow. Thanks.

Jon Holdman · Answer

Does this have galvanized pipes that have been sitting empty for some time?  If so, plan on replacing them all.

Steve Babiak · Answer

If you have hard water in that area, it could be the calcium build-up getting loosened.  Or maybe the tenant was that dirty going into the tub :)

Dawn Anastasi · Answer

This could be zinc oxide from galvanized pipes corrosion.  But I'm not a plumber.

Substance coming out of bath water?

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