Dirty Hot Water - grease like substance

[riksvsreward]

Just bought a 1960's house. It has a Grundfos UP 15-18 recirculation pump in the line. Notice when I run hot water in any of the tubs, little particles of grease float to the top of the water. When I unplug the pump, no grease. When I bought the house, the main water line was turned off and the pump was plugged in (which I heard is not generally a good idea). Is it possible that the pump broke and is leaking grease into the hot water line or is there another explanation. Any help greatly appreciated. I did drain the water heater a few times prior to discovering the link to the recirculation pump.

 

[Redwood]

It is magnesium sulfide caused by a reaction of your water with the magnesium anode rod in your water heater. Replace the anode with an aluminum one.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[riksvsreward]

Water heater the cause???

Thanks - the water heater close to 15 years old and that was the first thought and still probably will replace. But if it is the water heater, why when I unplug the recirculation pump, I get hot water without the grease? I just didn't want to replace the heater and then still have the same problem. Thanks again for any advice.

 

[Redwood]

I wasn't talking about replacing the water heater... I was saying replace the magnesium anode rod with an aluminum one. However at 15 years old replacement is certainly on the table. A new water heater will come with a magnesium anode which you will probably need to change out.

 

[riksvsreward]

Recirculation pump

So either way if I replace the rod or the entire heater, you think that will eliminate the problem and that it is not the recirculation pump?. I still don't understand why when I unplug the recirculation pump there is none of the greasy substance.

Thanks again,

 

[Redwood]

The recirculation stirs it up and keeps it in suspension.

 

[riksvsreward]

got it, thanks so much

I will search the forum more regarding the best type of heater to get. Have a great rest of the day.

 

[Redwood]

Are you looking for a gas, or, electric water heater?

 

[riksvsreward]

Water heater

Looking for gas - right now have 40 gallon and probably looking to increase to 75. We have 3 baths, one a jacuzzi and seems like my wife is always running the dishwasher and/or washing machine. One plumber friend said he would recommend going with the tankless but I am seeing lots of controversy on it and just want to get something that works and doesn't have grease particles in the hot water so I can actually start taking a bath.

 

[Redwood]

As far as buying a gas water heater there are 2 brands that I would consider having installed and they would be Bradford White & Rheem (GE). Since your last water heater there has been a safety modification that was mandated. This modification is referred to as FVIR and only these 2 really got it right!

Look on this forum for the tale of woe regarding Whirlpool water heaters.

 

[riksvsreward]

Water Heater

Thanks - that definitely seems to be the consensus on the board. What is your take on tankless?

 

[Redwood]

It depends on where you are and what your hot water usage is.

Here in the northeast our winter water temperatures get pretty darn cold and really the only use I can see is if someone was installing a huge water wasting multi head shower system. People with this type usage lay out the $$$$ for a bank of these units that will take 34 degee water and turn it into endless hot water for a 17.5 GPM shower.

The poor guy here that installs a single unit ends up where no one else in the house can run hot water while he takes a shower with a single head flowing 2.5 GPM. There are a couple of units that have huge burners in the 380,000 Btu range that recently came out these may make a difference.

Sizing and rate of rise is everything with these units! A user in the south might be very happy with a smaller single unit.