How do I get rid of the buildup in my hot water heater and keep it from coming back?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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!

Answer 2

Calcium Buildup In Water

Answer 3

I pull my elements every six months and flush clean the bottom each time with a through cleaning once a year (wet vac sucking out bottom through bottom element hole and removed drain opening). I keep a spare of elements on hand and clean the elements each time removed. I ve used the same elements for over 10 years and the hot water tank has been used for 13 years--no issues to date.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

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.)

Answer 8

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.

Answer 9

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.

Answer 10

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.

Answer 11

you have what's called, hard water. your water supply needs to have a filter on the line, before it gos into the heater