miamicuse wrote:
The union that connects the copper pipe and the nipple that comes out of the
heater for the hot water is corroded. I got a plumber here to replace it.
He got here, turned off water, turned off electric, unscrewed the union and
wow, I saw some scary stuff. Inside the union. It's black, looks like a
pile of tar. I could not believe it. I was wondering if it could be sewage
back flowing into the water heater, totally black yucky stuff. He looked at
it and told me it's normal, just "stuff" from minerals in the water getting
heated and turn into this. Is this normal? It looks scary to me, that
stuff is in the water I take shower with? Could it be sewage blackflow?

MC


Just don't drink it! LOL

He's right. Normal. Not sewage.
The water in the heater is ideal for organic growth of all kinds.
Molds thrive, some bacteria don't mind the high temps.
Worse if you are on well water, not chlorinated,
but happens on city water too.

Now the bad news.
There IS a genuine threat from Legionnaires' disease in the home.
Remember the cases some years back?
If the bacteria exists INSIDE the water heater it will be
carried off in an atomized spray by the shower head,
perfect for inhaling into the lungs!!

Read this article carefully:

http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/legion.htm

Then, do a GOOGLE search for: "water heater" legionnaires

Jim