Cloudy hot water

[plbghelp]

Hello,

Had a new hot water installed about 6 days ago and since have noticed our hot water is cloudy. It clears from the bottom up in a few seconds when poured in a clear glass. Also the water pressure coming from shower faucet sounds much greater than before the new water heater was installed. So have cloudy water and feel pressure is greater since changing water heater. Any ideas on causes and remedies? Thanks

 

[Reach4]

Had a new hot water installed about 6 days ago and since have noticed our hot water is cloudy. It clears from the bottom up in a few seconds when poured in a clear glass.

That indicates dissolved air, or other gas, coming out of solution.

If it cleared from the top down, that would be particles.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[plbghelp]

That indicates dissolved air, or other gas, coming out of solution.

If it cleared from the top down, that would be particles.

Thanks for the reply. How big of a problem is this? What could be the cause? An air leak?

 

[Fitter30]

If it's at one faucet probably got some minerals in the aerator from changing heater. Pull and inspect it.

 

[Plumber69]

came across this 10 years ago. Cant remember what remedy was

 

[Reach4]

Thanks for the reply. How big of a problem is this? What could be the cause? An air leak?

Do you have a well?

Air does not leak into pressurized pipes. You are unlikely to have a shallow well pump in California.

I don't know how the WH could have been involved, but there could be some mechanism that I don't know about. Is this only on hot, or do you get that with cold?

 

[plbghelp]

Do you have a well?

Air does not leak into pressurized pipes. You are unlikely to have a shallow well pump in California.

I don't know how the WH could have been involved, but there could be some mechanism that I don't know about. Is this only on hot, or do you get that with cold?

No well. Hot water at all faucets

 

[plbghelp]

If it's at one faucet probably got some minerals in the aerator from changing heater. Pull and inspect it.

It’s occurring at all faucets.

 

[Reach4]

No well. Hot water at all faucets

Speculation on possibilities...
1. cold water has air dissolved, and the heating lets that come out of solution more. Since there was much more new cold water than normal, it was more noticeable. If that is the explanation, then the effect, the effect should decline with time.
2. Or the new WH is set hotter, and that also drove more dissolved air out.
3. Reaction of the new anode with something in the water producing the gas.

 

[plbghelp]

Speculation on possibilities...
1. cold water has air dissolved, and the heating lets that come out of solution more. Since there was much more new cold water than normal, it was more noticeable. If that is the explanation, then the effect, the effect should decline with time.
2. Or the new WH is set hotter, and that also drove more dissolved air out.
3. Reaction of the new anode with something in the water producing the gas.

Really appreciate the thorough replies. Can the new water heater explain the sudden increase in pressure coming from the shower head and bathroom faucets. The sound of the water coming from the shower head is so much louder since the water heater was replaced.

 

[WorthFlorida]

What you are seeing is just air bubbles coming to the top of the glass. Growing up in NYC (1950's) and then visiting family members in later years, NYC water always did this (cold side).
I think the water is flowing so fast that the turbulence it causing any air in the water to be released by cavitation. It hard to believe water flowing in pipe & water heater will do it. Being california where most homes have galvanized pipe the inside of the pipe gets filled with corrosion and ends up with a smaller inside diameter. If this is true and a new section of pipe was used to make the connection and its inside diameter is larger, it could cause the water to accelerate, the pressure drops and air in the water is released. It's all conjecture. It'll probably stop doing it after a while but there is no harm to it.

Google search "why is NYC water cloudy"
Air becomes trapped in the water as it makes its long trip from the upstate reservoirs to the city. As a result, bubbles of air can sometimes cause water to appear cloudy or milky. ... The cloudiness is temporary and clears quickly after water flows out of the tap and the extra air is released.