FOAMING HOT WATER

[Ken Amelin]

The water from this 20 year old gas fired water heater was foaming like mad. It was so heavy, I could actually pick up the foam with my hand. (town water supply)

It was obvious that the heater was old and needed to be replaced, but I have never seen foam like this. Does anyone know what might cause this?

[Billy Stephens]

what might cause this?

Was the property recently winterized? ( chemical residue causing the foaming.)

Air in the line / tank.

[Gunnar Alquist]

Hi Ken,

I see some foaming in homes that have been vacant for an extended period of time. Usually clears up in a couple of seconds. Don't recall having seen it to the degree that you mentioned. Also don't know what causes it, but have only recall having seen it in unoccupied homes.

[Harry Janssen]

May be,the sacrificial annode was gone.

[Ken Amelin]

Was the property recently winterized? ( chemical residue causing the foaming.)

Air in the line / tank.

The property was winterized, But I've never heard of any chemical used in potable water supply??
The lines and tanks are just drained.

[Tabb Jensen]

Air in water lines causes this. The source of the air - break in line anywhere - from water supply to your house, could also be malfunctioning city tower or home expansion tank, or gasses seperating from the water itself. Air gets into the water heater - people turn on their water during outages - and due to gravity, expansion, automatic mixing valves, siphoning and so on - this allows some water out of the hot water tank which then fills with air. One of the reasons the top anode (water heater) wears out first - I believe.

[Billy Stephens]

The property was winterized, But I've never heard of any chemical used in potable water supply??
The lines and tanks are just drained.

S*** Happens. ;)
How to winterize household waterlines in severe environments - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAq-Tgbjczs)

[Ken Amelin]

S*** Happens. ;)
How to winterize household waterlines in severe environments - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAq-Tgbjczs)

Billy,

Thanks for the link. Very interesting, but that looks like compressed air not chemicals.

[Billy Stephens]

Billy,

Thanks for the link. Very interesting, but that looks like compressed air not chemicals.

Yeah I know.

[Gregory Booth]

The property was winterized, But I've never heard of any chemical used in potable water supply??
The lines and tanks are just drained.

...........potable anti-freeze pretty common. Usually pink in color. It will foam when flushed with fresh water. Was the water heater by-passed?............Greg

[Larry Morrison]

...........potable anti-freeze pretty common. Usually pink in color. It will foam when flushed with fresh water. Was the water heater by-passed?............Greg
This is my guess, (I see this in my camper each spring) normally they will just blow out the lines and put this anti-freeze in the traps. But could be they put it in the lines. My understanding is that Anti-Freeze (including food grade) is not to be used in a water heater. My guess, it was and what you are seeing is a reaction with the lime deposits in the WH.

[Joe Hendrix]

S*** Happens. ;)
How to winterize household waterlines in severe environments - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAq-Tgbjczs)


Somewhat off the original topic but I wanted to weigh in as it seems that several of you guys do winterizations on your own property- home, RV, boat.


As a professional plumber ,I utilize the same type of set up when I winterize home plumbing systems that the You-tube video presented . The only thing that I would add is the use of a specialty vegetable-based lubricant in the 30+ year old compressor. All lubricated air compressors will leak small amounts of its lubricants while in use and therefore a small amounts of petroleum based lubricant would be entering into your plumbing water supply system.


Of course an oil-less compressor could mitigate the problem of insuring the integrity of your water supply system.

[Raymond Wand]

Joe,

All lubricated air compressors will leak small amounts of its lubricants while in use and therefore a small amounts of petroleum based lubricant would be entering into your plumbing water supply system.

Thanks, I did not know that. Fortunately I use an oil less compressor. :)