1) What are these black particles coming out of my water tap?
2) Are they a health hazard? (small children involved)
I live in a house that is about 40 years old. The hot water tap in the
bath tub often spews out black particles of varying size (speck of
dust to flakes 1 mm). These float on water.
They stick to the enamel bath tub wall and can only be removed with
scrubbing detergent.
They stick to skin but go off easily with soap.
They discolor platic items permanently.
There are more of them on warm days, or after the bath tub has not
been run for a few days. |
Request for Question Clarification by
cynthia-ga
on
10 Jul 2005 21:11 PDT
What type of plumbing do you have?
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Clarification of Question by
axel_s-ga
on
10 Jul 2005 21:26 PDT
I am renting, I don't have any information about the plumbing.
This is California, Silicon Valley (in case this helps).
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Request for Question Clarification by
cynthia-ga
on
10 Jul 2005 22:27 PDT
Usually apartments have pvc (plastic). Check under your sinks, look
at the plumbing, is it plastic or metal?
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Clarification of Question by
axel_s-ga
on
10 Jul 2005 22:41 PDT
It is a rental house.
All pipes I can see, also to and from the water heater, are metal.
Of course there is also a large water heater in the laundry room.
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Request for Question Clarification by
czh-ga
on
14 Jul 2005 12:50 PDT
Hello axel_s-ga,
This happened to me several times in the six months before my water
heater busted. The plumber who replaced my water heater said the crud
in the tap is one of the signals that your water heater is on its last
leg. Do you have any idea how old the water heater might be? Newer
water heaters are rated for life expectancy and have a permanent
sticker on them telling you when the unit was manufactured. Do you
have access to the water heater? If yes, find the date on the sticker.
You might want to discuss replacing the water heater with your
landlord. If you don't get a new water heater, be prepared for it to
flood your garage or wherever it is located. Good luck.
~ czh ~
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