white chunky medium in lines

[carnut2]

I have been trying to put my finger on what the white chunky medium is that is building up and blocking lines. It first started happening after we tried a new chemical delivery system, so my first thought was it was the base powder from that product. Then the chemical guy determined there was a crushed filter in the delivery line. Two months later I have had to replce large sections of tubing and valves to try and correct the probelm. I have installed filter cups on every line out to the wash and clean them out daily. My next plan is to put a large filter from my water softner tank to where it bring out the fresh water to the facility to try to stop it back where I now think it is coming from.

Our water softener is only two years old. Is there a need for medium change already or is there a problem with my tank?

 

[pitzerwm]

I would bet that it is the chemicals , not the water. You can clean out the lines with a solvent of some sort.

 

[carnut2]

We stopped using that chemical and base product several months ago BEFORE i added all the line filters and changed the tubing out.

I just read an older post on the forum about a wash that had the head break in the tank which caused the medium in the bottom to get sucked up in to the lines....sounds sort of like what we have going on a but on.

 

[rph9168]

Make sure your chemicals are intended for use in hard water. Sounds like precipitate is forming which usually means your chemicals are not hard water tolerant.

Most decent brands should work in hard water but in some cases if you are using chemicals meant for a touch free some chemical companies do not make their touch free products hard water tolerant to save money since they are intended for use in soft water.

You might also check your softener to see if it is working properly.

 

[MEP001]

Softener resin is not white, so I don't think that's your problem.

Softener resin should last 8-10 years unless the chlorine content of the water is extremely high. I doubt it could go bad in just two years unless the softener is severely undersized.

Do you test the water regularly?

 

[carnut2]

Yes we test out chlorine levels regularly. We haven't tested anything else. Do we need to get some testing done?

We stareted out with Lustra chemicals, moved to their concentrate Ultra Flex and that is when we staarted to experience problems. We now use JBS chemicals.

I can't say for sure it was the Ultra Flex. I still suspect the water softener, but i will pursue the water testing.

 

[MEP001]

You need to test the hardness, not the chlorine. The only place chlorine testing is important is the supply to the RO system, after the charcoal filter.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I would bet that it is the chemicals , not the water. You can clean out the lines with a solvent of some sort.

I agree with Bill.
Had a very similar problem.
Late one night I drained all my chemical tanks and lines.
Cleaned everything in the tanks with bleach. Cleaned lines with solvent.
Then I turned my boiler heat up, filled the tanks with super hot water and bleach.
Turned on all the bays for at least an hour.
Mixed a complete new tank of chemicals, added it to the tanks after an hour.
It worked for me.

 

[rph9168]

If it is the chemicals the problem would return eventually even with the lines cleaned out. I believe it is a hardness issue. Precipitate as you describe is normally caused by a build up of solids from hard water. The chemicals you were using were probably not hard water tolerant and/or your softener was not working properly.

MEP is correct. It has nothing to do with chlorine. Get some test strips to check for hardness.

 

[carnut2]

problem identified!

We found the source of the chunky corn-meal like stuff blocking filkters and lines. Turn out we have a Watts Scale Net water conditioner and not a water softener.

Talked to the rep there and he says they have had problems with the design of the filter head. Sure enough,, when we put it on bypass and removed the top the filter basket was crushed...for the second time ion 6 months or less.

Watts is sending us a new filter head and has a redesign plan to help resolve the problem.

Glad it was not a chemical issue.

 

[mac]

OK this begs the question: Why do you have this thing instead of a softener? Softeners are fairly developed technology, and pretty cheap. Just what is your scale thing supposed to do that a softener doesn't?

 

[mac]

Carnut2, was just curious as to what your experience with the Lustra Ultra Flex was?

 

[carnut2]

We got the scale net conditioner at the recommendation of our equipment rep. He thought it was a cheaper and more efficient way to pull out compounds that make the water hard.

In retrospect, it would have been worth the price of the softener and it looks like we will be retrofitting our wash with this. Learn the hard way.

The Ultra Flex. At first we were very enthusiastic about the product for its ease of use and convenient size. The way you flip over the gallons without wasting seemed like a big plus. We were even fairly impressed by the cleaning ability of the product. Our rep could send checmicals out with any tech in our area without having to send the delivery truck so it was a win-win.

But these went on line about the same time we started having trouble with our conditioner and so, since we thought it might be a chemical problem, we discontinued using the product. We did have to replace a section of hose by our drying agent to get rid of chemical buildup after using Ultra Flex. It may have been a reaction to the product already on line. I was looking at the sample the other day and the coagulate that breaks out of that section of hose can be added to water and foamed up so it must be checmical buildup. We did not use them long enough to really be a good judge.