[cjaustin81]

A few weeks back I had a Rheem 50-Gallon water heater installed (old 25 yr old unit was finally leaking). When the previous water heater was leaking, the ejector pump was working good and ejecting all the water that streamed out for a good 12+ hours.

I went downstairs tonight and noticed "brown sand" on one side of the water heater, and also out of the black pipe from the relief valve. Both brown sand looks similar.

My question is, where is this sand coming from? It almost looks like one is coming from the relief valve and the other from the ejector pit backing up (possibly, even though it worked great a few weeks ago).

Any ideas?

 

[Msradell]

What you are calling Brown sand under the black pipe looks like rust that probably came from the inside of the pipe. The other and while similar does look different at least in the pictures. They both appeared to be very dry and not damp at all, is that the case when you feel them?

 

[cjaustin81]

What you are calling Brown sand under the black pipe looks like rust that probably came from the inside of the pipe. The other and while similar does look different at least in the pictures. They both appeared to be very dry and not damp at all, is that the case when you feel them?

Both are dry, no moisture at all. The plumber had to saw the black pipe when he installed it so the rust there makes sense.

The other pile has me confused because it's an unfinished basement and all of the sewage in the house goes out the main sewage drain. Whatever it is also stained the area around the ejector pit like a poo brown color.

Only thing going to the ejector pit is the small PVC line from the furnace.

I swept up both piles so that I can monitor it. I also tested the ejector pump by directly plugging it to the outlet and that turned on right away..

 

[TimPa]

did these piles show up after the plumber left? or, is it possible he left them?

 

[cjaustin81]

did these piles show up after the plumber left? or, is it possible he left them?

They seemed to show up after he left. The relief valve pile for sure was after he left but I think that's just rust.

Nothing should be going down my ejector pit, except for the furnace pvc pipe as far as I know.

 

[Windows on Wash]

Looks like rust to me as well.

 

[ToolSeeker]

Could be rust from the the old tank and pipes being banged around when removing them. Then when the new was hooked up all the loose rust got flushed out.