I just replaced the anode in our Suburban HWS. Just as a matter of interest I then consulted Oracle Google about the effects of magnesium on humans.
Interestingly, magnesium turns out to be an essential element for human health, but only in SMALL doses. In LARGE doses it has a detrimental effect on health causing all sorts of nasty things, both physical and mental.
When I took out the spent anode from our HWS the water was coloured white, presumably that came from the anode and seemed to indicate a high level of magnesium. The van had been used through January, sat empty in February with the anode now checked and replaced ready for a trip north.
So, does anybody know how the release of magnesium from anodes in our HWSs is regulated to the safe level?
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 18th of March 2019 05:04:53 PM
Iva Biggen said
06:05 PM Mar 18, 2019
I can understand your concern with the excess consumption of magnesium. At the least it may cause diahreha (spelling?) as I am lead to believe.
Fortunately it is only the hot water which may have traces of magnesium from the anode so if you are not in the habit of making tea and coffee from the hot water service then most of the magnesium would just go down the drain.
The white in your hws is more calcium from the water you have used than magnesium.
Magnesium is present in many water supplies and it is a great remedy for cramps when taken in tablet form from a health food supply or chemist.
-- Edited by Iva Biggen on Monday 18th of March 2019 06:07:34 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:11 PM Mar 18, 2019
The white you see is not "magnesium" per se, it is probably a magnesium compound, maybe magnesium oxide, I have no idea, but you can not assume that it is still bad for you, even in larger doses.
It is a bit like saying "Chlorine is bad for you", which would be true if it were chlorine gas in concentrated form, but we also see "chlorine" as NaCl (sodium chloride) which is common salt or as HCl, which is Hydrochloric acid.
Be not alarmed....
Cheers,
Peter
Possum3 said
10:07 AM Mar 19, 2019
As I am prescribed Mg tablets, I don't believe it will have too much of an adverse effect in my shower water.
PeterD said
10:10 AM Mar 19, 2019
Long Weekend wrote:So, does anybody know how the release of magnesium from anodes in our HWSs is regulated to the safe level?
How many times do we read "Don't fill your jug or kettle from the hot water system?" Maybe this is one of the reasons. Many of the hot water systems at home also have these same anodes.
If you follow the no jug/kettle instructions you will be OK, either in the van or at home.
Long Weekend said
04:33 PM Mar 19, 2019
Thanks all. I have to admit that when what looked like milk poured out of the tank I had some moments of worry. My first thought was that the water was almost pure magnesium, which couldn't be good.
Murray
Warren-Pat_01 said
12:08 AM Mar 20, 2019
Just give it a good flush out before reassembling the heater you should be ok.
I just replaced the anode in our Suburban HWS. Just as a matter of interest I then consulted Oracle Google about the effects of magnesium on humans.
Interestingly, magnesium turns out to be an essential element for human health, but only in SMALL doses. In LARGE doses it has a detrimental effect on health causing all sorts of nasty things, both physical and mental.
When I took out the spent anode from our HWS the water was coloured white, presumably that came from the anode and seemed to indicate a high level of magnesium. The van had been used through January, sat empty in February with the anode now checked and replaced ready for a trip north.
So, does anybody know how the release of magnesium from anodes in our HWSs is regulated to the safe level?
Murray
-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 18th of March 2019 05:04:53 PM
I can understand your concern with the excess consumption of magnesium.
At the least it may cause diahreha (spelling?) as I am lead to believe.
Fortunately it is only the hot water which may have traces of magnesium from the anode so if you are not in the habit of making tea and coffee from the hot water service then most of the magnesium would just go down the drain.
The white in your hws is more calcium from the water you have used than magnesium.
Magnesium is present in many water supplies and it is a great remedy for cramps when taken in tablet form from a health food supply or chemist.
-- Edited by Iva Biggen on Monday 18th of March 2019 06:07:34 PM
It is a bit like saying "Chlorine is bad for you", which would be true if it were chlorine gas in concentrated form, but we also see "chlorine" as NaCl (sodium chloride) which is common salt or as HCl, which is Hydrochloric acid.
Be not alarmed....
Cheers,
Peter
How many times do we read "Don't fill your jug or kettle from the hot water system?" Maybe this is one of the reasons. Many of the hot water systems at home also have these same anodes.
If you follow the no jug/kettle instructions you will be OK, either in the van or at home.
Thanks all. I have to admit that when what looked like milk poured out of the tank I had some moments of worry. My first thought was that the water was almost pure magnesium, which couldn't be good.
Murray
Magnesium is good for arthrytic pain, I'm told