Eric wrote the following:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in message
...

Eric wrote:


Maybe pressure works differently in the country on a well? Mine
doesn't. Mine is filtered and softened with two different styles of
units and the water heater still needs cleaning twice a year from
whatever is left. Maybe the sodium from the softener?? or the
potassium from the pot. perm. filter??

Holy cow - you have to clean your water heater twice a year? I've never
heard of that and we live in a hard water area.

======

I left it go too long, in the beginning, before the pot perm filter and
I think the sulphur (I think) caked up pretty bad and then jammed up my
hydronic pumps, check valves, faucet and shower screens. It got so bad
at one time I had to clean out the shower head with black chips before
every couple of showers to get any pressure. Water tests always seemed
to show the water OK and perfectly soft (0 grains). Now it appears
seasonally only, from the well. I clean it twice a year, less then the
manufacturer recommends. PITA

--

Eric


My water heater system was changed to a separate propane water heater in
1986 from the domestic water heater that was part of the fuel oil
boiler. It lasted until 2006 (20 years) when it developed a leak. In all
of those 20 years it was never cleaned and there was never a problem.
The first water heater was an A.O. Smith. The current one is a GE
(although still propane) both 40 gallons.
Of course there is some sediment occasionally in the fixture screens,
but that is probably from the copper pipes between the heater and the
fixtures.
At no time were those screens so clogged that the water was impeded.
I don't remember the last time I actually took off the shower heads to
look for sediment.


--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Eric wrote the following:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in message
...

Eric wrote:


Maybe pressure works differently in the country on a well? Mine
doesn't. Mine is filtered and softened with two different styles of
units and the water heater still needs cleaning twice a year from
whatever is left. Maybe the sodium from the softener?? or the
potassium from the pot. perm. filter??

Holy cow - you have to clean your water heater twice a year? I've never
heard of that and we live in a hard water area.

======

I left it go too long, in the beginning, before the pot perm filter and
I think the sulphur (I think) caked up pretty bad and then jammed up my
hydronic pumps, check valves, faucet and shower screens. It got so bad
at one time I had to clean out the shower head with black chips before
every couple of showers to get any pressure. Water tests always seemed
to show the water OK and perfectly soft (0 grains). Now it appears
seasonally only, from the well. I clean it twice a year, less then the
manufacturer recommends. PITA

--

Eric


My water heater system was changed to a separate propane water heater in
1986 from the domestic water heater that was part of the fuel oil
boiler. It lasted until 2006 (20 years) when it developed a leak. In all
of those 20 years it was never cleaned and there was never a problem.
The first water heater was an A.O. Smith. The current one is a GE
(although still propane) both 40 gallons.
Of course there is some sediment occasionally in the fixture screens,
but that is probably from the copper pipes between the heater and the
fixtures.
At no time were those screens so clogged that the water was impeded.
I don't remember the last time I actually took off the shower heads to
look for sediment.


=======================

I never had any problem like that with a tank either. Just likea kettel the
minerals all accumulate on the hot elements at the bottom and it doesn't
become a problem there.

Tankless water heaters function differently. An accumulation of minerals on
the heating portion will block the flow very quickly being the heating
portion is the only place the water has to flow through it. A tank style
would have to be limed to the top before you would know it other than the
cracking noises they make after a few months from the scale buildup next to
the heat element.

--

Eric