Sediment in water

[tyler m]

I've been researching for weeks and cannot seem to find the answer to this issue. Anyway, I'll spell it all out.

Our area has super hard water, so last year I installed a GE water softener, GE whole house sediment filter and I installed a new hot water heater on that same day because our old one had so much sediment.

Since installing everything, we have been getting a ton of black and white sediment in our shower which has been causing the shower heads to become clogged and one even broke. It gets so bad that if I leave the filter screen in the shower head, barely any water comes out because it gets clogged. It also appears to be happening with our bathroom sink faucet. My city is town water and from the main supply I have it going into the whole home sediment filter and then into the softener. The softener is definitely working because I notice a difference in the feel of our water. The filter also appears to be working because it gets brown every few months prior to changing it.

The sediment feels like sand when it comes out and when it collects on the bottom of the tub it almost looks like black pepper. There are also pieces that are white or translucent that feel like sand. I'll post pictures below.

I'm trying my very best to avoid hiring a plumber because we're expecting our first child in the next two weeks and money is super tight.

Thanks to anyone that can help with suggestions.

Pics in spoiler

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[Jeff Handy]

It could be the little resin beads from the softener, somehow getting forced out into the plumbing system.

They are dark and tiny, you can find images on Google.

 

[Jeff Handy]

If also could be charcoal and minerals breaking off from the whole house filter.

 

[Jeff Handy]

It also could just be old sediment built up in the pipes from before your upgrades, that is now breaking loose.

Drain your whole system and flush the water heater a few times, and then refill and flush the pipes with just cold water from the bath tub spout or a slop sink, or some fixture with no aerator like a hose spigot.

 

[Jeff Handy]

Try adding some Iron Out powder dissolved in warm water to your softener salt, right before the next regeneration.
It stinks, so do another regeneration right after that.
Don’t breathe the Iron Out powder dust if you havd asthma, wear a mask or bandana.

 

[tyler m]

It could be the little resin beads from the softener, somehow getting forced out into the plumbing system.

They are dark and tiny, you can find images on Google.

After comparing images, they don't look at all like the resin beads.

 

[RS]

Are you sure everything is plumbed properly, sounds like something is drastically wrong?