Plumbing question

[Glom]

I happen to unscrew the cap on one of my bathroom taps, which is caked in scale. On top, I found this fetching pile of bluish coarse powder loosely sitting on top of the plastic mesh. Is this supposed to be there? I would assume this is debris that should be cleared but it looks like no debris I've seen. It's not some all-natural filtration thing, is it? Seems unlikely, but I thought I'd check.

[molesworth]

I happen to unscrew the cap on one of my bathroom taps, which is caked in scale. On top, I found this fetching pile of bluish coarse powder loosely sitting on top of the plastic mesh. Is this supposed to be there? I would assume this is debris that should be cleared but it looks like no debris I've seen. It's not some all-natural filtration thing, is it? Seems unlikely, but I thought I'd check.

Without knowing exactly the type of tap, or what the "powder" looked like, it's hard to say, but if it's bluish then it may be corrosion of copper piping in an electrochemical reaction with steel in the tap body.  Or it may be a disintegrated plastic washer within the tap mechanism (less likely, as I'd expect it to leak if it was that badly broken.)

[Peter B]

I happen to unscrew the cap on one of my bathroom taps, which is caked in scale. On top, I found this fetching pile of bluish coarse powder loosely sitting on top of the plastic mesh. Is this supposed to be there? I would assume this is debris that should be cleared but it looks like no debris I've seen. It's not some all-natural filtration thing, is it? Seems unlikely, but I thought I'd check.

When you say "the plastic mesh", where in the tap is this mesh? Do you mean the aerator at the nozzle of the tap? If not, could you post a picture (just a generic picture) and point to where the mesh is?

[VQ]

Sounds like corrosion from copper pipes. Likely nothing to worry about. No, if you have the strainer off you can brush the loose flakes off into the garbage can.

[Obviousman]

I'm guessing copper sulphate / carbonate (I can't remember which)? I've seen it heaps on hot water systems.

[VQ]

I'm guessing copper sulphate / carbonate (I can't remember which)? I've seen it heaps on hot water systems.

Copper carbonate is bluish green; copper sulphate is bright blue.

I think.

[Glom]

Here's the stuff. The view shows the top of the cap that is inside the tap.

BTW, it is lovely to see the stream of water from a freshly descale thingy.

[Obviousman]

Hmm - not what I was expecting.

[Obviousman]

BTW, it is lovely to see the stream of water from a freshly descale thingy.

Did you use CLR?

[Zakalwe]

Somewhere, on a plumbing forum, someone is asking about unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine.... 

[Zakalwe]

On a more serious note, do you live in a hard water area? If you do then it's probably just lime deposits building up. Wrap a rag around it and splash some vinegar on it. It'll come up a treat.

[molesworth]

Somewhere, on a plumbing forum, someone is asking about unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine.... 

That got a literal laugh out loud from me! 

[Glom]

Hmm - not what I was expecting.

Oh?

BTW, it is lovely to see the stream of water from a freshly descale thingy.

Did you use CLR?

Viakal mostly and finger nail.

On a more serious note, do you live in a hard water area? If you do then it's probably just lime deposits building up. Wrap a rag around it and splash some vinegar on it. It'll come up a treat.

This is the South of England. The water is so hard it's always asking me for a fight in the car park.

[Jason Thompson]

This is the South of England. The water is so hard it's always asking me for a fight in the car park.

 

Certainly the water here in the south of England is rock hard. The crud on your filter is probably limescale coloured by minor corrosion in the pipes over the years. I can wholeheartedly recommend these guys though:

Harvey's water softeners

We got one fitted years ago and the difference was amazing. Use of detergents for laundry, dishwashing, bathing etc. has dropped a lot, we haven't had to descale a kettle or shower head in years, and skin irritation is reduced. Worth a look. Feel free to DM me if you want to know more.

[Zakalwe]

On a more serious note, do you live in a hard water area? If you do then it's probably just lime deposits building up. Wrap a rag around it and splash some vinegar on it. It'll come up a treat.

This is the South of England. The water is so hard it's always asking me for a fight in the car park.

Did you spill it's girlfriend or look at it's pint? 

It'll be crud building up from the hard water. Get your central heating flushed out sometime and be amazed at the quantity of utter filth that's been circulating round in there for years!