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Is sediment is coming out of my water heater
How can I establish whether sediment is coming out of a water heater and transferring on to fixtures? I’m concerned it’s the cause of a brown, rusty colour in hot water.
Expert Trade Answers
"When you say water heater do you mean a hot water cylinder by any chance (which is connected to the heating system via a copper coil inside the cylinder or a stand alone water heater)?
If it is a hot water cylinder then it is likely the copper coil inside (used to heat up the hot water using heating system) is damaged, leaking and contaminating your hot water system (with heating system water), resulting in what appears to be sediment but more likely sludge (this points to the heating system being in bad health and requires
1) a new cylinder as old one is damaged
2) needs a power flush or chemical flush to clear sludge build up in the entire heating system including the radiators
3) recommend installing a Magnetic heating filter at boiler (on the return pipe) to catch any sludge as it builds up (also makes it easy and cheap to clean the sludge from heating system each year at same time when you get the boiler serviced and will reduce any damage being caused to the boiler and also lowers the chance of blocking the heat exchangers narrow water ways with sludge
4) put some heating system inhibitor in the heating system when steps 1-3 are done to try to stop or slow build up of sludge again.
If it is an electric water heater then likely the electrical heating element is starting to break down and fall apart causing rust/sludge to appear in the hot water - most likely recommend a new heating element or water heater.
If it is a gas water heater then it is likely an internal seal is damaged and has caused a bolt (or lots of bolts) to be exposed to water and causing them to rust so would need a GasSafe engineer to inspect it - most likely recommend a new seal or water heater.
If it is none of the above the only other thing I can think of is the local water board has dug up the water pipe in the road/street to do some repairs or work and the pipe was contaminated with a large deposit of sediment then resealed but this would likely effect your neighbours as well you so you could always ask them if they are having the same problems to rule this out (your cold mains water would likely show signs of contamination as well as the hot water if this is the cause so easy to check-just fill a large clear glass or bowl with cold water and check for sediment).
I hope you have already fixed this by now but this might be useful to someone else with a similar problem in the future."
If it is a hot water cylinder then it is likely the copper coil inside (used to heat up the hot water using heating system) is damaged, leaking and contaminating your hot water system (with heating system water), resulting in what appears to be sediment but more likely sludge (this points to the heating system being in bad health and requires
1) a new cylinder as old one is damaged
2) needs a power flush or chemical flush to clear sludge build up in the entire heating system including the radiators
3) recommend installing a Magnetic heating filter at boiler (on the return pipe) to catch any sludge as it builds up (also makes it easy and cheap to clean the sludge from heating system each year at same time when you get the boiler serviced and will reduce any damage being caused to the boiler and also lowers the chance of blocking the heat exchangers narrow water ways with sludge
4) put some heating system inhibitor in the heating system when steps 1-3 are done to try to stop or slow build up of sludge again.
If it is an electric water heater then likely the electrical heating element is starting to break down and fall apart causing rust/sludge to appear in the hot water - most likely recommend a new heating element or water heater.
If it is a gas water heater then it is likely an internal seal is damaged and has caused a bolt (or lots of bolts) to be exposed to water and causing them to rust so would need a GasSafe engineer to inspect it - most likely recommend a new seal or water heater.
If it is none of the above the only other thing I can think of is the local water board has dug up the water pipe in the road/street to do some repairs or work and the pipe was contaminated with a large deposit of sediment then resealed but this would likely effect your neighbours as well you so you could always ask them if they are having the same problems to rule this out (your cold mains water would likely show signs of contamination as well as the hot water if this is the cause so easy to check-just fill a large clear glass or bowl with cold water and check for sediment).
I hope you have already fixed this by now but this might be useful to someone else with a similar problem in the future."
Answered on 1st Dec 2024 - Member since Nov 2024 -
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