The Blessing of Hard Water

NY 986 · Feb 20, 2012

Blessing? I did not think so when I was working on the water heater this morning. Yes, we have a softener (and it does work) but it never fully removes the impurities. I cleaned a small pile (three handfuls) of lime out of the bottom. Then I got thinking about my health and well being. There have been more than a few times I should have had a broken bone or worse in my life time but did not and can't help but think it is due to my bone structure. The doctors have told me I have always been several pounds heavier than I should be when things such as height and waistline are taken into consideration. I can't help but think all that iron, calcium, etc. has made my bones unusually dense. I think maybe now I will go draw a glass of water out of the unsoftened tap at the kitchen sink.

BCnT · Feb 20, 2012

i hope for your sake it is just thick bones and not kidney stones...i make ice tea every day in a coffee maker and i see the calcium build up in the grounds...glad theyre caught by the filter.

donjr · Feb 21, 2012

Now I know the reason the war department keeps telling me to get the lead outta my azz---

Anonymous-0 · Feb 21, 2012

Are you sure that was lime, in your water heater, and not the remains of the anode??/

FBH44 · Feb 21, 2012

Well, iron, calcium, manganese, and lots of other "impurities" are actually nutrients. Your body needs them, and your multi-vitamin contains them. Be careful, you might be drinking lots of the replacement element, out of your ion exchanger, which is sodium. Might be exactly the wrong thing if you're an old guy like me.

Ken Macfarlane · Feb 21, 2012

We have the same thing. The water heater gets about 1/2" per year in the bottom. Around the 4 year mark the bottom element starts tripping out.

After year one the elements will not fit back out the hole without demolishing them due to build up.

tomNE · Feb 21, 2012

I drain and flush my heater at least once a year. (it actually works better if i do it twice)
hook the hose up...shut off water and elec. then open the petcock on top and let her flow.
after it quits, i open the water valve a couple times for 30 seconds to let it swish the ramains out. only problem i ever had is the new tanks have a real cheap drain valve. i always got it shut off but it made me nervous many times. finally got the plumber to install a regular brass valve. now i have no worries. haven't replaced an elemet since!

NY 986 · Feb 21, 2012

The water is highly variable around here. Much better out of an artesian well if available. For many folks elements such as iron, calcium, sulfur, etc. are a fact of life unless they have it brought in which some do. The filtration and softening equipment is much better now versus a generation ago which helps extend the life of things such as water heaters and dish washers. I certainly am thankful we do not have any (evident) sulfur.

Dave Sherburne NY · Feb 21, 2012

Sounds like we need another high priced government study. About a million dollars where do I sign up?

The Blessing of Hard Water

NY 986

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BCnT

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donjr

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Anonymous-0

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FBH44

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Ken Macfarlane

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tomNE

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NY 986

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Dave Sherburne NY

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