can i use CLR or some other chemical to clean out the hard water scale out of my hot water heater after empty?

Question

my hot water heater is burning out eleiments there is hard water scale all the way up to the bottom element tried to vac it out but not alot of luck with that. would like to know of something i can use to break it down or desolve it like that C L R or lime away i am going to replace both elements soon after i drain the tank what can i use to clean out all the hard water deposits/scale/rust please help tired or buying and replaceing elements. THANKS TLJ

Answer 1

There isn't anything. The elements are useless once they are ruined, and the sacrificial anode isn't servicable. You need to treat the water BEFORE it enters the heater. The only way to do this is with a water softener.

Answer 2

What you need to do is remove the elements from the heater and then you can submerge then in a container with CLR or whatever. Just be sure and keep the attachments end above the surface. They probably need to soak a day or two.