green coloured and slightly smelly water coming from hot tap

[brine]

I have a 20 year old indirect hot wate cylinder heated by a 20 year old free standing cast iron ideal mexico boiler. Boiler works fine but the hot water in the bathroom has a greenish tinge which is gradually becoming more pronounced and is also a little smelly. Any advice re cause/cure would be much appreciated

 

[gasafengineer]

Possibly bubble burst in primatic cylinder or coil split , any overflows running? , check water level in cold water storage cistern/F&E.

 

[Agile]

Your system is very old!

Have you considered you would probably save 30% on your gas bill with a new boiler?

Tony

 

[Boilerman2]

You may well save 30% in gas - BUT a mexico only has 2 working parts a Gas control Valve and a Control Thermostat!! how does that compare with a modern SEDBUK A Steamer!!!

 

[brine]

Your system is very old!

Have you considered you would probably save 30% on your gas bill with a new boiler?

Tony

Yes am thinking about it but what is the payback time in years involved in the expense of changing to a new condensed boiler in an average 3 bedroom house?

ps thanks for reply

 

[brine]

Possibly bubble burst in primatic cylinder or coil split , any overflows running? , check water level in cold water storage cistern/F&E.

Thanks for response, will check overflows and water levels. If the coil is the problem does that mean a replacement cylinder and if so what make of new cylinder would you recommend

 

[profplumb]

You do not say wether your cylinder is a coil or primatic cylinder,in normal cicumstances the reason for green smelly water is A.copper sulphate (decomposition of the copper reacting with other metals in your system ie electrolosis) B.All copper cylinders have a sacrifitial annode fitted from new this annode breaks down over time and is the probable cause of the smell hope this helps ??

 

[Agile]

Copper sulphate? Where would the sulphuric acid come from?

I have never found any bad smell from any cylinder fitted with a magnesium anode. What gas are you suggesting is produced?

Nor do I find anodes on most standard cylinders.