Carver Owners Forum

My boat's screens would get clogged like that too, with those same tiny white plastic particles. Never did find out where they were coming from.

My boat's screens would get clogged like that too, with those same tiny white plastic particles. Never did find out where they were coming from.

A lot of what collects in the screens comes from the hot water heater, just byproducts of the water, solids collecting on the heating element, etc. I think it's lime that deposits when heated, just like you get in a coffee maker, steamer, etc.

Viper wrote:QR_BBPOST A lot of what collects in the screens comes from the hot water heater, just byproducts of the water, solids collecting on the heating element, etc. I think it's lime that deposits when heated, just like you get in a coffee maker, steamer, etc.

This is why I changed my water heater. When I came to empty the tank for winterization, nothing came out with the valve open. Thing was full of contamination, minerals and oxidations particles from deterioration the aluminum tanks we all have. Now have a small filter outboard of the water heater which will visually show if there is something happening in there not to mention I also installed an anode in the tank.

Here is the thread. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=3660&hilit=woes+heater

Could have been something as simple as very hard water, lots of marinas on wells......

I always remove the faucet screens and clean them when I Spring commission water systems. Doing that once a year seems to be enough to maintain full flow. The sediment in the water heater doesn't get disturbed too much throughout the season, it's when you first fill the tank in the Spring that causes the most disruption of what's left in there after emptying the tank in the winter that causes the screens to fill up because you basically turn on your faucets right away to commission the water system. You typically open at least a hot water faucet to release pressure which allows the heater tank to fill up. The rush of water into the tank stirs up the particles and puts them into suspension and because you've opened a faucet right away, the particles spread throughout the system. This is why you might get full flow before winterizing but suddenly have no flow at or shortly after commissioning time.

Seems to me 2 things for this type of deposit. Well water is used here, very hard water. Also could be the water heater as Hans said. When I winterized the system, the flow out of the tank was good. Either way, I got fooled on this one since both were clogged. Well, I got to examine more parts, discover a lot more of the boat. For that I am extremely happy. I know next time, experience.

I only turn on my water heater about 20 minutes before I need hot water. This helps to keep the calcium, etc, from cooking out of the water, and caking on the element.

tomschauer wrote:QR_BBPOST I only turn on my water heater about 20 minutes before I need hot water. This helps to keep the calcium, etc, from cooking out of the water, and caking on the element.

When we arrive at the boat, I turn on the water heater, and when we leave, we turn it off. Same with the valve for the city water.

pepmyster wrote:QR_BBPOST

tomschauer wrote:QR_BBPOST I only turn on my water heater about 20 minutes before I need hot water. This helps to keep the calcium, etc, from cooking out of the water, and caking on the element.

When we arrive at the boat, I turn on the water heater, and when we leave, we turn it off. Same with the valve for the city water.

Same here. I think that's one reason why my heater lasted at least 38 years (it's original and is still going).