How Do I Get Rid Of The Buildup In My Hot Water Heater And Keep It From Coming Back?
I have a 30 gallon water heater that is approx. 10 years old. I have replaced the heating element twice in 2.5 years due to(calcium?lime?) buildup eating through the coil. What can I do to prevent this kind of buildup and clean it out with now.
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14 Responses to “How Do I Get Rid Of The Buildup In My Hot Water Heater And Keep It From Coming Back?”
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September 19th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Lots of good suggestions. Another one–if you have a cut off, which you should, on the cold water intake, cut it off, so you have no water supply. Turn on a hot water faucet somewhere to release pressure. Turn your tank off, connect a garden hose and drain the tank completely. You may have to use a stiff wire to break through the deposits in the drain valve. Once you have it drained, take a short piece of garden hose that will attach to the drain (4 or 5 ft) Insert a funnel in the end, and pour a gallon of vinegar into the funnel, holding it up so the vinegar will flow into the hot water tank. Turn off the drain valve when you have poured it in, make sure to catch the leftover vinegar in the hose so it won’t spill. Let the vinegar sit for about 30 minutes, it will disolve the lime deposits. Turn on the cold water valve, and allow the tank to fill about halfway. Let sit for another 10 or 15 minutes. Then, turn off the cold water again, attach your hose to the drain and drain out the vinegar and water mix. You’ll loosen a lot more of the lime that way. When the tank is drained, leave the hose attached & drain open, then turn the water back on to the tank, let it flush out the rest of the vinegar for a few minutes. When you think all of the vinegar is gone, close the drain valve, disconnect your water hose, and allow the tank to fill. When it fills completely, go back to the hot water faucet you had on and close once the air is purged from the line. Make sure to use white vinegar. Don’t worry about any vinegar residue left in the tank, good for your skin, and your hair anyway and is harmless otherwise.
Note–if you do find your drain valve is froze up due to corrosion, don’t force it, most are plastic and break easily. Makes a big mess. Most tanks where you have hard water last only 5-10 years anyway, may be time to replace it. Always easier and more convienent to replace it when you are wanting to, and have the time, not when the tank decides to leak on its on!
September 20th, 2009 at 1:29 am
you have what’s called, hard water. your water supply needs to have a filter on the line, before it gos into the heater
September 20th, 2009 at 7:26 am
There is a bar that runs from the top down, I forget what it is called, its made of a softer material, and it disolves first, sparing the other elements in the heater,
It gets replaced every five years or so.
flush the tank to get rid of residue.
September 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am
First, my experience with hot water heaters is that they don’t usually last more than 15 years, no matter what you do.
Those with more capacity, (40 or 50 galons) tend to last a little longer.
The guage on the bottom adjusts to the desired temperature you want your hot water to be.
Keep it hot but not boiling hot.
I replaced mine a year ago because I didn’t want to wait until the coil breaks and the water covers my floor.
Be very careful about the flue and exhaust pipe. Be sure it’s installed right because it could cause carbon monoxide.
Have your Utility Company check it, preferably each year. They have a meter that registers if there is a problem with the unit.
Again, cleaning it by taking water out won’t keep it going longer.
They are not built to last as long as home heating units.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
You need to replace the ANODE in the water heater. Its either gone or needs cleaning badly. That is a long metal rod about 3 feet long and 3/4 inch . On the outside it shows up as a hex nut right on top of the water heater. Get hold of that nut with a large hex wrench and remove that rod.
You can buy a new anode for about $18 on line or at a plumbing store. That anode is what protects the water heater against corrosion. Its on ALL water heaters.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Flush the unit into the yard. Maybe twice of three times. Otherwise just replace it.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
At ten years the unit has reached the end of it’s useful life. Replace it and get your water tested. The install the appropriate conditioning equipment. If it’s doing this to your water heater think what it is doing to you.
Also, if the coil is being corroded, have you checked the anode rod?? That is a sacrificial rod that is screwed into the top of the tank to keep galvanic action from corroding other parts. (Check your owners manual of a repair site.)
September 21st, 2009 at 1:14 am
You really can’t clean it out now but, if you invest in a water softner or water treatment system, it will solve this problem. That is really the only way.
September 21st, 2009 at 6:55 am
You need a water softener.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:06 am
The mineral is not eating your element. The element is surronded by mineral causing it to overheat and burn out. A softoner will solve your problem. The mineral will not come out the drain. In the mean time, remove the element and bend a coat hanger to fit in the hole. Wrap with electrical tape to make a scoop. Start dragging out the mineral. You can’t get it all out but it should extend the life of the replacement element.
September 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
A water softener will help, but build up is going to happen.. to clean it out, you can use a wet vac and attach a tub on the hose that will fit into the opening of the water heater.. then suck out the hard water deposits. If you attach a hose that is rather flexible but not really small, you can suck out A LOT of the deposits.
It is a real pain to have to replace the elements, and to clean out the tank, … just always remember to shut of the electrical breaker to the tank. good luck.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Regular flushing of the tank will help but buildup of this type is not easy to prevent.
Check with your plumbing service – ask if they install an aftermarket flushing device and drain valve – it lifts and stirs the sediment and drives it to the drain valve – maintenance flush should be performed every 6 months.
Some new water heaters include these features.
A water softener is often recommended for hard water.
September 21st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I have lime in my water too. You need to filter the water or get a water softener, or just drain water heater and replace the elements every couple of years.
10 years is a long time for a water heater to last in those conditions. The bottom must be full of sediment.
they say you can put in diluted sulfuric acid which will clean it out, just make sure to flush it good.. I found a narticle on it on the internet once….try searching..good luck.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
two suggestions at the bottom of the tank there is a drain valve to attach a water hose. turn off the inlet valve at the top and drain the tank once a year. suggestion two, get a water softener installed