Plumbing forum - Re: Anything I can pour into water heater that will dissolve deposits?

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Re: Anything I can pour into water heater that will dissolve deposits?

suckcess@thecesspool.com

2007-12-08, 8:25 pm

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 06:32:27 -0800 (PST), Jack <tinacci3@themacisp.net>
wrote:

>
>
>Doc wrote:
>
>Two hings come to mind. (1) Fill it with a cider vinegar solution and
>let it set for awhile should work and is pretty safe.. (2) would be a
>muratic acid solution, which would do the trick, but is much more
>potent and so, harder to determine strength of solution and time to
>let work. So I would try the vinegar first. a gallon of vinegar is
>realitive inexpensive and fairly safe to use. As actually you could
>taste the solution to determine how stong it was without any danger.
>Not so with muratic acid!

I'll second the vinegar method. I would NOT use any acid or chemicals
in a device that provides fresh water. Personally, I'd just open the
drain valve and flush it for a half hour, then shut off the cold water
supply valve and drain the tank, refill and repeat once again.

When you drain the tank, open at least one hot water faucet in the
house to allow air to enter into the tank.

To those who suggest replacing a (working) tank, you got way too much
money. I'd be happy to take some off your hands.

do_see@do.com

2007-12-09, 3:25 am

suckcess@thecesspool.com wrote:
> On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 06:32:27 -0800 (PST), Jack <tinacci3@themacisp.net>
> wrote:
>
>
> I'll second the vinegar method. I would NOT use any acid or chemicals
> in a device that provides fresh water. Personally, I'd just open the
> drain valve and flush it for a half hour, then shut off the cold water
> supply valve and drain the tank, refill and repeat once again.
>
> When you drain the tank, open at least one hot water faucet in the
> house to allow air to enter into the tank.
>
> To those who suggest replacing a (working) tank, you got way too much
> money. I'd be happy to take some off your hands.
>
>
>
>
I think that they are suggesting that he not waste time and money and
replace the tank. Obviously the tank is not working right or the op
would not have posted the inquiry.

beavith

2007-12-09, 3:25 am

replace it. period.

you also have a Mg anode rod in it to contend with. once that is
gone, you get electrolytic corrosion that makes a blowout a matter of
time. its not a question of "if". its a matter of "when."

as far as softening goes, (the quality of the rest of the pipes in
your house (especially the hot water pipes) can be just as suspect as
your hot water heater) it's cheap insurance. it preserves your pipes
and your hot water tank. and it doesn't use that much water on
recharge. it exchanges out Ca, Mg, preferentially, and Fe and Mn if
you add a calcium chloride pretreatment tank.

they are sized based on how much water you use and how much and what
kind of hardness you have. adding on a softener now can bring your
pipes back over time, if they've narrowed from deposits.

you'll find that your soaps do a MUCH better job cleaning. at a much
lower usage rate.

no. i don't work for culligan or kinetico. i lived with
unbelievably hard water in IN and CT before i went the softened water
route here in NH. there's no going back.....

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