o/t delime water heater

730 virgil · Feb 26, 2011

my water heater has lots of lime in it.
does anyone know of a product that will can use to break up and clean lime out of water heater?

IOWA NORTHEAST · Feb 26, 2011

We do a few each month with maratic acid, but I have a pump to circulate it. This is not for everyone, but it does work pretty good.

If you have a electric heater, and it is in the basment with a drain, it is reral simple to clean it out.

Shut off the power --do not drain it. Pull the bottom element, and let the water flush out the lime as you reach in with a bent chunk of rebar and pull it towards the hole.

RayP(MI) · Feb 26, 2011

Acid cleaner like dairymen use to clean milkstone out of bulk milk lines, milktanks, etc. Available at most any farm supply store. Soak tank overnight with a gallon in the full tank, drain, flush thoroughly.

730 virgil · Feb 26, 2011

2 problems no basement drain some of the chunks are to big to get out of the hole.

TomR Ont · Feb 26, 2011

730 virgil,
Had the same thing only mine was so full I think it caused the element to blow.
Also have no drain, so garden hose to the sump hole.
Used the wet/dry vac to suck out the sediment broke up the lumps with an old stove poker, added water as needed.
That was about 5 years ago, about time to do it again before more problems start. Can Be Messy
Don't know but it could use less hydro and have more hot water

buickanddeere · Feb 26, 2011

You can't. Only way is to stop the lime before the heater with a water softener.

VicS · Feb 26, 2011

We went to sleep many a night with our water heater beating and banging. Finally got a Sears water softener. Drained the water heater a couple of times. Took about a month and one night It was quiet. Should have got a softener sooner. I don't know what to do about the big chunks, except get a new heater and a softener. Vic

toadady · Feb 26, 2011

well when we purchased this place there were three hot water heaters, all loaded with lime, after two gallons of muratic acid (came with house)i said forget it , it wasn't worth it,
one was old enough the porcilin on the inside was chipping out, one needed both elements,and the third one i couldn't get one of the elements out

now i'm going to drain these new ones once a year.

Sidekick · Feb 26, 2011

One thing that you can do that will help you drain it is to take the cheap plastic spigot off and throw it as far as you can and replace it with a ball valve. The water will flush out of it a lot faster and take more sediment with it. I have a drain right next to mine and I put a ball valve and fittings so that it dumps right in the drain. Works real well.

Dean Olson · Feb 26, 2011

Gas or Electric? If electric drain, remove lower element and use a wet vac with 3/4" copper taped to it to vacuum it out. If it's gas it's not practical. Household vinegar can help.

The best way is to prevent it with a water softener.

showcrop · Feb 27, 2011

I know that you already know about water softeners. I have had to clean scale out of water heaters many times, often where there was no drain nearby. What we did was drain it, remove bottom element, make a little shovel out of some sheet metal, and shovel out, We would add water to flush scale towards hole and catch as much as possible in a shallow pan. These were usually in a commercial kitchen and the pans are called sheet pans. You have your helper vacuum the water out of the pan as you are flushing. Big chunks you have to make smaller with a bar or long screwdriver. Sorry I never found a better way but it works. you can get lime solvent at restaurant supply stores as well as dairy supply. It is phosphoric acid so you can also use it on tractors and equipment to clean and neutralize rust.

JOB · Feb 27, 2011

Dean has the right idea. Vacuum out what you can, but get all or most of the water out of the heater, all is imposible. The house hold vinegar is 5% acidity because it has been diluted with water. It will work real good at diszolving the lime with more water removed. I would use 2 or 3 gallons and let sit 24 hours. Less time will work also. Good luck

IOWA NORTHEAST · Feb 27, 2011

If you are near NE IA you can borrow my pump. no cost. Muratic acid is very cheap,(also dangerouis) but you must hook a plastic garden hose to the line to make room for expansion, and lead rhe fumes, and flush water outside. The drain in the bottom of the heater will probably plug right away.

I have seen several attempts with viniger, never seen one that it actualy worked however. The muratic acid is expected to be hard on the elemets, but luck has been on my side for the most part.

If you have that much lime, it will probably never drain real well, but do not forget to shut the power off. The water cools the element, and destroy it almost in seconds if not in water.

730 virgil · Feb 27, 2011

thanks guys you have given me some ideas to try
i have a water softner. i need to keep a closer watch on the salt level.
the vinger sounds safer than the acid i need to see if i can get the plastic valve out and replace it.

o/t delime water heater

730 virgil

Well-known Member

IOWA NORTHEAST

Member

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member

730 virgil

Well-known Member

TomR Ont

Member

buickanddeere

Well-known Member

VicS

Well-known Member

toadady

Member

Sidekick

Member

Dean Olson

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

JOB

Member

IOWA NORTHEAST

Member

730 virgil

Well-known Member

Similar threads