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Calcium buildup in the water heater is an issue many homeowners encounter. It can lead to expensive home repairs and even water damage if unchecked.
This blog will show you five easy steps to remove calcium buildup in your water heater or other faucets.
5 Easy Steps To Remove Calcium Buildup In Water Heater
If you are experiencing a calcium buildup and your water heater is acting up, it may be time for preventative maintenance. Here are five easy steps to remove calcium buildup from the water heater.
Step 1: Turn Off The Main Power
Turn off the main power supply to your water heater by flipping the “OFF” switch on the back of your electric water heater. It will allow you to drain as much water out of it as possible without causing damage to its internal components. If you have a gas-powered water heater, turn off the gas supply at its valve.
Step 2: Setup a Bucket
Set up a bucket under your cold water inlet pipe.
Once you’ve turned off your main power supply, set up a bucket under your cold water inlet pipe so that it can catch any residual hot water that may still be flowing out of your tank when it’s done draining. It will make it easier to remove any calcium buildup that may be left behind after all this work is done.
Step 3: Empty The Entire Content
Let the hot water run through your faucet until it runs cold. Add some hot tap water and run through your faucet until it runs cold (no more than 5 minutes). You want to make sure that no more than 35% of what comes out of the faucet is warm enough for use in washing dishes or other household tasks like laundry.
Empty the entire contents of your water heater into a bucket or other container, then add about 10 gallons of hot water from your water heater to dilute any remaining calcium deposits.
Pour this diluted solution into your garden hose and spray it onto what you can see has been affected by calcium buildup on the bottom of your tank. You may need to do this several times until all calcium deposits are removed.
When finished, replace any removed and run an empty tank cycle before turning on any hot water in your kitchen or bathroom sink.
Step 4: Add a Vinegar
Pour one cup of vinegar into each end of your water heater, which will help neutralize the acidity in your water heater and remove any remaining scale deposits or debris that may be present inside those areas.
Step 5: Add Caustic Soda
Caustic soda is a strong alkaline solution that removes calcium deposits from water heaters. It’s important to use caustic soda because it breaks down the calcium deposits and makes them easier to remove.
Add three tablespoons of caustic soda to each end of your water heater, then stir it up so that it dissolves completely into a solution before pouring it out onto a towel or rag to soak up any remaining liquid in those areas.
Why Should You Remove Calcium Buildup?
Calcium buildup in your water heater can cause several problems for you and your family. It also means that you need to take action sooner rather than later can cause a variety of issues, such as:
- Difficulties with your water heater’s efficiency results in higher bills and longer waiting times for hot water. Difficulties with your heater’s longevity.
- A decrease in the quality of your hot water means that you may have trouble finding a good drinking water source after using this source.
- A decrease in the quality of your cold water means that you may have trouble finding a good drinking water source after using this source.
- Calcium buildup in water heaters is a serious problem that can cause significant damage to the heating element.
If left unchecked, calcium buildup can eventually destroy your water heater altogether. That means you’ll have no choice but to replace it—and with such a high cost, you don’t want to do that until you know what needs fixing.
- We’ve all heard that drinking too much calcium can cause kidney stones, but did you know that it can also increase your risk of heart problems? Drinking too much calcium increases your chances of developing hyperparathyroidism, which leads to kidney stones and other ailments. It also increases your risk of heart disease by increasing blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Reason For Calcium Buildup In Water Heater
The main reason why calcium buildup occurs in water heaters is that the cold water is not getting hot enough to make steam in your system. It means some minerals are left behind and sit on top of the coil. Over time, this can cause corrosion, which leads to damage in the form of leaks or cracks in your heating system.
How To Prevent Calcium Buildup?
Follow these steps to prevent calcium buildup in your water heater:
- Make sure that you don’t have too much hard water. Hard water contains high amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium that can build up on your heater’s elements.
Run a cup of hot tap water through a filter for about five minutes. If you see any sediment at the bottom of the cup, then there’s too much hardness in your water—which could cause problems with calcium buildup over time.
- The best way to avoid calcium buildup in your water heater is to keep it clean by regularly cleaning out old deposits with a solution of vinegar and baking soda or chlorine bleach. You should also run your water heater for no more than half an hour every day so that you don’t let too many deposits build up over time.
Conclusion
Water heater tanks must remain clear of calcium buildup to heat water properly. The damage to the tank with an excess buildup shortens its lifespan; It can also be a safety hazard.
Fortunately, you have discovered this guide, which should help you remove excess buildup and hopefully prevent it from returning in the future.