This build-up is blue/green in color, and I have tried almost everything to remove it, with no results. Can anyone help? Thank you.
2006-09-02 09:36:57 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
That is a copper build up. Use a solution of half ammonia and half water to get rid of it. Wear gloves as it may irritate your skin if it is sensitive. Flush the faucet and let the water run awhile. This should clear it up...
Also, if you are getting that you should have the pH of your water checked by a local testing company. If you have Copper piping and the water is acidic it is basically microetching copper from the pipe and that could lead to worse depositing.
2006-09-02 09:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by genaddt 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You probably have copper plumbing; copper salts in solution tend to be blue-green in color. You need to install a water softener. First, though, you need to test the water to see how hard it is, so as to determine the amount of softening needed. Kits to do this are widely available.
Water softeners come in three flavors:
- Ion exchange (zeolite). A tank filled with resin beads. The beads are charged with sodium ions from a salt solution, and exchange the calcium/magnesium in the water for sodium. The tank is backwashed with brine from time to time to expel the calcium and replenish the sodium. This is the most common type; they are widely available and this is what I recommend.
- Reverse osmosis. Usable if the water is not too hard. A semi-permeable membrane blocks the transport of calcium ions. These require backwashing, and use a lot of water.
- Magnetic. A strong magnet in the flow path deflects the calcium ions and carbonate ions into each other so that they precipitate out. Requires a filter to trap the calcium carbonate.
I have a friend who has very hard water (15 grains) and investigated the possibilities, thus obtaining the data presented above.
As for the buildup, it is probably calcium carbonate laced with copper carbonate. Any strong acid should get rid of it; I recommend hydrochloric, as it is readily available. Try not to get the acid on anything which you don't want to be eaten.
2006-09-02 16:51:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be teased out with a probe or by using the many descallers on the market.
Do not despair. Medical research shows that hard water (which causes this) provides all the minerals for a healthy heart.
People in soft water areas are at risk of early death from heart failure!!
2006-09-02 16:42:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
try a product called clr, which stands fur calcium, lime, and, rust. these are the mineral deposits from hard water which it removes.
2006-09-02 16:43:55 · answer #4 · answered by ny21tb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you may want to try limeaway or some type of lime cleaner this should help
2006-09-02 16:43:08 · answer #5 · answered by chefgoudah 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
try CLR if you havent yet, maybe get a water filter inline...doesnt hard water suck?
2006-09-02 16:39:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋