On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:45:57 -0400, h wrote:

"Boden" wrote in message
...
h wrote:

wrote in message

...

I bought a new condo and my water is very hard. Whenever I use the
dishwasher I get white flaky residue on everything. I read to try
vinegar. I let the vinegar sit for several hours with the bottom full
of vinegar. Then I ran it a little to circulate the vinegar and let
it sit again. I then ran it through a complete cycle with no dishes
or detergent so as to rinse the vinegar out. I still get chunks of
stuff on all the dishes. The silverware especially looks horrible -
caked on white film with small bits of white flaky substance and food
particles.

Do you think I need a new dishwasher or is there some 'smoking gun'
you see?


Speaking from experience, I'd say you need a water softener and then a
new dishwasher.
Probably good advice, but have you cleaned the filter(s) in your
dishwasher? "Bits" of anything doesn't seem like just hard water.

Au contraire. Before we got a softener we had white chunks (likely
calcium deposits) in the pipes. They'd build up in the faucet screens
and block water flow. We'd have to unscrew the heads and clean the
screens at least twice a week to maintain water flow. Once we got the
softener we never saw the chunks again.

I had the same problem. White build up coming from somewhere we couldnt
figure out. Then I drained the water heater. Well, I tried. It was so
gummed up with calcium that I couldnt get it drained. Ended up replacing
it and then at the same time installed a water softner.

Check your water heater for buildup.


coffee