When it comes to water heater maintenance, there are a few essential items to include on the 'honey-do' list. Fortunately, most tasks necessary to prolong the life of the water heater only need to be done once every few years.
Descaling the hot water heater is one of those 'must-do' projects and one that should be completed every two years.
What is descaling and why is it important?
A home’s water heater is almost constantly working. The water inside the tank also contains minerals, such as calcium. When water is heated, partially dissolved sediment is left behind. If these minerals collect and build up on the walls or bottom of the tank, the hot water heater is more likely to overheat or lose efficiency. Descaling is the process of removing these mineral deposits.
To avoid the need for an emergency plumber, owners need three basic items for a DIY descale:
- System descaler. Which can be as simple as a pump, hoses, and a bucket.
- Valves. Need to have valves connected properly. If unsure of what valves the hot water has or requires, refer to the owner’s manual or give Pratt Plumbing a call.
- Descaling solution. This is a biodegradable, food-safe cleaning solution, such as vinegar.
Steps for descaling your water heater
- Turn off valves
- Remove the hose from the second hot and cold water ports
- Attach the system descaler hose to the hot valve
- Put the other end of the hose in the bucket
- Attach the system descaler pump hose to the cold valve
- Turn on the cold water
- Turn on the hot water and let it flow into the bucket
- Once the pump is submerged in the bucket, turn the water off
- Add descaling solution to the bucket
- Check that all hoses are connected
- Turn on the secondary tap
- Plug in the pump and let it run for approximately 60 minutes
- Turn off the pump
- Turn off inlet and outlet valves
- Remove hoses
- Turn the hot water valve on and let the water run out (use a bucket to catch the water if necessary)
- Find the small screen on the underside of the tankless water heater. Unscrew this and make sure it is clean (you can clean it by dunking it in the descaling solution)
- Reattach the hose to the hot side. Leave the hot isolation valve off
- Turn the cold water on
- Turn the hot water hose port and gas on. Run water until it is warm
- Turn valve off
- Unscrew hose
- Replace the hot water valve cover
- Turn the isolation valve on
- Return unit to normal 'on' positioning
Water heater maintenance in Amarillo, Texas, USA
If descaling the water heater, it is recommended to print or save these instructions on the phone. For those who prefer that a professional hand the job, call the team at Pratt Plumbing.
