What causes white mineral deposits in sink strainer?

Answer

It sounds like you need to replace your water heater. The white minerals are caused by sediment in the water heater. The sediment is corrosive and can cause either your elements or your dip tube to go bad. Flushing it out will help but only gets a portion of the sediment out. Every time you use your water it gets shaken up and pushes through the system to whatever fixture your using

Answer

Check your water heater to see if it has a bad dip tube. The DIP TUBE is a plastic tube that sends the incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank to prevent it from mixing with the hot water going to your faucets. For a period of time between 1993 & 1997, most water heater manufacturers were supplied with defective dip tubes from the same manufacturing company. The problem caused the dip tube to disintegrate slowly, and the particles and chunks to clog up faucets, aerators, etc. There was a class action lawsuit that provided dip tube replacement for those who signed up in time, but that program is now over. Many people didn't hear about the problem in time even though the media reported it on new shows and in newspapers many times for several years.

Answer

You may have a high magnesium percentage in your water, this does depend where you live, where you get your water and how close are you to the coast.

First answer by ID0000000000. Last edit by Plumbing guru. Contributor trust: 20 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 173 [recommend question]