Discoloration of some surfaces while using a water softener

[John Clint]

Hi all.
Just wondering if anyone noticed a discoloration of some surfaces during using a water softener. See picture for example.

Our conditions:

• Water is soft, softener working just fine (tested).
• TDS about 200
• Hardness 10gpg
• No iron or manganese.
• Spotting/discoloration noticeable on the surfaces mostly in showers (daily wet/dry conditions)
• Chrome, tempered glass, stainless steel
• None of the cleaning solutions couldn't help.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Reach4]

Use the search box above for silica.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Kevin Wentworth]

Assuming your settings are correct on the softener, I agree with the possibility of silica.
Do you know your water is soft after the system?

 

[John Clint]

Assuming your settings are correct on the softener, I agree with the possibility of silica.
Do you know your water is soft after the system?

Thanks for the reply.
Confirmed (silicon/silica in the water 13ppm)

Used Iron Out (week source of the hydrofluoric acid) as some of the online recommendations and it worked just fine.

Thanks all for the quick response in right direction!

 

[Kevin Wentworth]

Thanks for the reply.
Confirmed (silicon/silica in the water 13ppm)

Used Iron Out (week source of the hydrofluoric acid) as some of the online recommendations and it worked just fine.

Thanks all for the quick response in right direction!

A possible solution for build up prevention would be a polyphosphate cartridge after the softener.

 

[John Clint]

A possible solution for build up prevention would be a polyphosphate cartridge after the softener.

Seems like its more for hardness and iron issues.
Did anyone try it for silica after the softener with success?

 

[ditttohead]

Silica is more of a family descriptor than an actual contaminant. Silica comes in many forms and can rarely be corrected with polyphosphate. it is also very difficult to clean off with acid (most of the time). That being said, we have seen occasional success with polyphosphate, but this is rare.