I am stumped on this water issue

So I just moved into a new place, as some know, and I am getting a new grow underway. Before things get too hairy I wanted to test my water supply.

Straight from the kitchen tap on cold the EC is 0.19ish.
But... from the kitchen tap on hot the EC is .75
And... from the hose spigot outside (no hose though) the EC sits around 0.55

So, obviously I am going to be rocking the cold tap water but what the hell is going on here? Can anyone shed some light on how the temperature changing is affecting my EC.

I am thinking that the hot water comes from the water heater and that thing might have some sort of buildup going on. But this doesn't explain the water from the spigot outside. With that one I am thinking maybe it is different/old pipes leaving a residue in the water. Honestly though, this is a stumper.

Anyone else notice this with their own water? Different EC depending on what tap and/or the temperature from the tap. At my last place I didn't have this issue.

The Ec will change due to Temp. fluctuations. An EC meter is measuring the electrical current passed through a liquid between the 2 probes of the meter 1cm apart. Heat will speed up the current passing between the 2 probes of the meter, cold will slow the current. The faster the current passes between the 2 probes, the higher the EC reading.

Now, having said this, your meter should have ATC--automatic temperature compensation; however, I'm not convinced that the ATC is meant to compensate for liquids that are far out of the normal temperature range--such as hot tap water.

Also, your pipes (depending on their age and the material they are made from) could be allowing minerals to enter the water.

Bud

Probably a stupid question but have you tried running the water at both locations for an extended period, then testing? Only thing I could think otherwise would be what has been mentioned already. The ATC makes sense. Any meter these days over $50 tend to have it. Corrosion from the water heater/pipes would be my next guess. My tap PH comes out at 9+ and is treated with chloromine, mmm.

Probably a stupid question but have you tried running the water at both locations for an extended period, then testing? Only thing I could think otherwise would be what has been mentioned already. The ATC makes sense. Any meter these days over $50 tend to have it. Corrosion from the water heater/pipes would be my next guess. My tap PH comes out at 9+ and is treated with chloromine, mmm.

Yup. I tried it.
I also allowed the hot water to cool and it maintained the high EC.
Also, I use a more expensive Hanna meter that has temperature compensation.
I think the ppm difference has to be coming from corrosion in the line that feeds the outdoor spigot and water heater but that the lines running to the interior of the place are newer. Given that the cool water from outside has the problem and that allowing the warm water to cool and getting the same results completely rules out an issue with water temp.
Corrosion is the only thing that makes sense.

Sounds right to me, must be mineral deposits.

by the way, an RO water unit is inexpensive and very easy to use--it just wastes a lot of water. So, depending on how much water you need on a daily basis, that's what I'd do. I've been using one for years, and it was an excellent investment in my opinion. I still haven't changed the filters in 3 years of use--and won't need to for years more.

Bud

Sounds right to me, must be mineral deposits.

by the way, an RO water unit is inexpensive and very easy to use--it just wastes a lot of water. So, depending on how much water you need on a daily basis, that's what I'd do. I've been using one for years, and it was an excellent investment in my opinion. I still haven't changed the filters in 3 years of use--and won't need to for years more.

Bud

I don't think that my <.2ec water really needs to be filtered. I have been considering a tall boy filter to nab the chlorides and fluorides and might do that instead.

The water here in the Santa Cruz mountains is superb. It is well water but there are natural springs all over. I am about a 2 minute walk to the San Lorenzo River so I know that I am not dealing with recycled city water or a high sulfur content. The water company is going to come out and run a new main line to the house sometime this summer so I will probably just hold off on the filter until after that.

Since I run the general organics lineup I can manage the hardness of my water very easily with no calcium in the macro nutrients.

Thanks for your input double-oh

Take your cold water, measure the EC, then warm that same water up in a pan and then measure it again. Like bud said, warm water always seems to register a different ec.

[quote name='SCMC']So I just moved into a new place, as some know, and I am
So, obviously I am going to be rocking the cold tap water but what the hell is going on here? Can anyone shed some light on how the temperature changing is affecting my EC.
QUOTE]

Hi SCMC,
If you have galvanized pipes mineral deposits will build up to the point of 90% blockage of the water flow at the nipples.
More mineral deposits more effect to the EC?
I'm guessing here so don't bet the farm on my answer.
Cheers:D