Old Water Heater - Good or Bad?

Users who are viewing this thread

Curtis336

New Member
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Nashville, TN
I recently bought an old house and had to remove the water heater as I am re-plumbing the entire house (more on that later). When I drained the heater, it didn't drain well, because the drain valve kept clogging up with some sort of clear-ish gelatin globule type substance.

I was a little disappointed because I had planned on using the hot water heater until I could to afford to replace it. It is an electric heater, fairly new looking. I think it might be ten or fifteen years old, and I think the house sat empty for over a year. Any ideas on what that stuff could be and if I should use the tank?

The stuff looked like little globules of the stuff you might see on the inside of a baby diaper if you opened it up and took out the absorbent stuff after it got wet.
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,770
Reaction score
1,190
Points
113
Location
New England
We like to think the water we drink is totally pure and clean. It generally is, but after a year, the effects of the chlorine or anything else that may have been used to limit the growth of stuff would have been overwhelmed. There are some algae and bacteria that could produce slime. As to whether you can sanitize it to then use it, I'd guess yes, but don't know. You might call the manufacturer and see if they have any suggestions on how to sanitize it so you can then use it. Some of that may have gotten into the pipes. You could probably hook up a pump, and run some bleach through it and the pipes, but I'd talk to someone that may know how best to handle this..
 

Doherty Plumbing

Journeyman & Gas Fitter
Messages
810
Reaction score
5
Points
0
Location
Penticton, BC
Website
www.facebook.com
I recently bought an old house and had to remove the water heater as I am re-plumbing the entire house (more on that later). When I drained the heater, it didn't drain well, because the drain valve kept clogging up with some sort of clear-ish gelatin globule type substance.

I was a little disappointed because I had planned on using the hot water heater until I could to afford to replace it. It is an electric heater, fairly new looking. I think it might be ten or fifteen years old, and I think the house sat empty for over a year. Any ideas on what that stuff could be and if I should use the tank?

The stuff looked like little globules of the stuff you might see on the inside of a baby diaper if you opened it up and took out the absorbent stuff after it got wet.

I'm not sure what's in the tank however if it's 10-15 years old it's not "fairly new". I would replace it just because of it's age.

Take all the aerators out of your faucets and flush out the hot water tank by opening up all the hot faucets. I'd even go as far as maybe to add some bleach to the HWT to help steralize anything that may of been growing in there.

I hope this helps.
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,602
Reaction score
1,039
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
The stuff is probably an anode rod which has become gelatinized. Pull the rod, but do it as carefully as possible so you scrape as little of the gelatin into the heater as possible.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks