Specifications

Water

0 Seconds

5 Seconds

The two main sources of water are surface water and

ground water. Surface water comes from lakes, streams

and reservoirs. Ground water comes from wells. Water

sources usually contain some impuries. Most are

harmless to people, but some can damage a water heater

over me.

Suspended Solids

Surface water is more likely to contain suspended solids,

such as sand, dirt, silt, clay, algae and decaying vegetaon.

These suspended solids can make water appear murky, or

they can be microscopic and not easily visible. Suspended

solids will cause staining of sinks, xtures and clothing. A

mechanical ltering system can be installed to remove

suspended solids.

Dissolved Gasses

Ground water is more likely to contain dissolved gasses

such as hydrogen sulde. When water containing

hydrogen sulde is heated, it produces condions

favorable to the growth of sulfate reducing bacteria. This

bacteria is harmless but will cause a disnct “roen egg”

smell which is parcularly noceable with the rst hot

water usage of the day such as a morning shower. This

problem can usually be eliminated by replacing the anode

rod with one made of a slower acng material and

ushing the water heater with chlorine bleach to kill the

bacteria.

Other dissolved gasses, such as oxygen and chlorine may

cause water discoloraon. This condion is usually

referred to as milky water because the hot water has a

whish color when inially drawn from the tap. When

le standing for a few minutes, the water will become

clear as the gas bubbles dissipate. This condion is

harmless but can be improved by installing aerated

faucets.

When the hot water system has not been used for an

extended period of me, such as while away on vacaon,

hydrogen gas may be produced. Hydrogen gas is

extremely ammable and will ignite when exposed to a

spark or ame. To prevent the possibility of injury, the hot

water faucet at the kitchen sink should be opened for

several minutes before using any electrical appliance in

the immediate vicinity. If hydrogen gas is present, there

will be an unusual sound such as air escaping through

the faucet as water begins to ow.