Blue-Green-White Granules clogging aerators (Home Depot, water heater, installed, vinegar)

[dbbd]

Over the last few weeks, we've had a problem with these bluish-green and white granules clogging up the aerators throughout the house.

Online research leads me to believe it's the anode rod in the water heater causing the problem. I've also seen some comments about the dip tube, but that seems to have been a problem before the house was built.

FYI - The house was built/water heater installed in 2006. We do have a water softener.

Hoping to get some thoughts/opinions/suggestions since I may be making a Home Depot run this weekend.

Thanks!

[K'ledgeBldr]

Dip tube-
Used to be a big deal several yrs. ago. Faulty manufacturing; but that was prior to '06 if I remember correctly.

[dbbd]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Dip tube-
Used to be a big deal several yrs. ago. Faulty manufacturing; but that was prior to '06 if I remember correctly.

Yeah, that's the only thing that leads me away from it...from what I could tell it was 94-97 or something like that.

I'm not ruling it out entirely though....

After reading some more I need to get some "samples" of what's in the aerators, and see if it floats and/or dissolves in vinegar. Float = plastic (dip tube) Dissolve = Anode.

Sound right....anybody?

[Barking Spider]

When a dip tube goes bad, the pieces will be little white chips/flakes.
When an anode rod goes bad, you will bet the blue/green/white colored stuff.
Anode rod debris is more like sand, dip tube is more like little flakes.