2006-09-19 11:58:46 · 6 answers · asked by sanman 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The hardness in your water heater is probably calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide. These are both soluble in strong acids. Muriatic acid will work, but the problem is, if it comes in contact with any steel components, it will cause corrosion.
I wouldn't recommend it, but you could probably buy some muriatic acid at the local swimming pool supplier or hardware store, and carefully prepare a dilute solution. You MUST wear goggles and gloves. This stuff is not forgiving. It will blind you.
But a 10 percent solution, will slowly dissolve the hardness.
As I said, I wouldn't do this myself, but your question was, what will dissolve it.
2006-09-19 17:20:35 · answer #1 · answered by richard Alvarado 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummmm anyone telling you to use chemicals for your hot water iheater? would you really want to shower in it afterward? you have 2 choices, first filter the water PRIOR to entering your heater. Or second flush out the heater once a month like the install manual tells you to do, yet no one seems to do this
2006-09-23 09:25:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
CLR will do it. Anything with hydrochloric acid. The Works toilet bowl cleaner will do the job also. Draining first to relieve sediment at the bottom. Then chemicals then flush it well.
2006-09-19 19:25:50 · answer #3 · answered by Dragonfly 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you put vinegar or HCL in there, you will accomplish nothing. What you have is a calcium deposit in there and it caked so thick that some of it is coming off.
The cure, a new waterheater.
2006-09-21 19:32:23 · answer #4 · answered by Polyhistor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vinegar!
2006-09-19 22:34:29 · answer #5 · answered by fibreglasscar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to drain it. You will not be able to dissolve it.
2006-09-19 19:04:02 · answer #6 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋