How to clean water heater heating elements from scale
When the water hardness is high, the heating element of an electric water heater becomes covered with scale. This coating prevents the transfer of heat from the heating element to the water, causing it to take longer to heat up, which is accompanied by excessive consumption of electricity. In this regard, it is necessary to periodically remove the tubular heater and clean it, which, among other things, will extend its service life.
Before starting work, the water heater is disconnected from the network, and the water inlet and outlet taps are closed. Then, using a screwdriver, you need to remove its lower decorative cover, held in place by screws.
Under it, the power wires for the water heater and indicator light are disconnected. You need to remember which wire connects where, or just take a photo of them.
After this, you need to remove the thermostat from the tubular heater housing. You need to grab it with your hands and pull it down without rotating.
Using a pipe wrench, you need to slightly unscrew the heating element from the water heater body.
You need to rotate counterclockwise. After slightly unscrewing, water will begin to flow out of the heating tank. If the water heater is not located above the bathtub, then it is necessary to place a container under it in advance to collect water. When it drains, the heating element is unscrewed all the way and carefully removed. If it is heavily coated with scale and does not fit through the hole, it can be slightly wobbled to the sides.
After removing the heating element, you need to open and close the cold water supply tap several times. This will allow you to wash away loose pieces of scale from the bottom of the water heater tank.
The dismantled heating element must be cleaned of loose scale. It is necessary to remove only the largest pieces that already want to fall off. There is no need to be zealous so as not to damage the walls of the tube.
Next, you need to take a PET bottle and cut off its neck.
A heating element is inserted into the resulting container. After this, hot water is poured into it and a package of citric acid is poured into it.
The solution should only cover the scaled tubes, without touching the contacts. The tubular heater remains in the acid bath for 24 hours.
During this time, the acid will eat away the scale, causing the surface of the heater to become clean again.
If the heating element is not too heavily coated with plaque, then cleaning may take less time. After descaling, it is installed back.
In the future, depending on the hardness of the water, the procedure is repeated every year or less. The same disassembly sequence is also performed when replacing a burnt-out heating element with a new one.
What you will need:
- screwdriver;
- pipe wrench;
- lemon acid;
- PET bottle 1.5-2 l;
- hot water.
Tube Heater Cleaning Process
Before starting work, the water heater is disconnected from the network, and the water inlet and outlet taps are closed. Then, using a screwdriver, you need to remove its lower decorative cover, held in place by screws.
Under it, the power wires for the water heater and indicator light are disconnected. You need to remember which wire connects where, or just take a photo of them.
After this, you need to remove the thermostat from the tubular heater housing. You need to grab it with your hands and pull it down without rotating.
Using a pipe wrench, you need to slightly unscrew the heating element from the water heater body.
You need to rotate counterclockwise. After slightly unscrewing, water will begin to flow out of the heating tank. If the water heater is not located above the bathtub, then it is necessary to place a container under it in advance to collect water. When it drains, the heating element is unscrewed all the way and carefully removed. If it is heavily coated with scale and does not fit through the hole, it can be slightly wobbled to the sides.
After removing the heating element, you need to open and close the cold water supply tap several times. This will allow you to wash away loose pieces of scale from the bottom of the water heater tank.
The dismantled heating element must be cleaned of loose scale. It is necessary to remove only the largest pieces that already want to fall off. There is no need to be zealous so as not to damage the walls of the tube.
Next, you need to take a PET bottle and cut off its neck.
A heating element is inserted into the resulting container. After this, hot water is poured into it and a package of citric acid is poured into it.
The solution should only cover the scaled tubes, without touching the contacts. The tubular heater remains in the acid bath for 24 hours.
During this time, the acid will eat away the scale, causing the surface of the heater to become clean again.
If the heating element is not too heavily coated with plaque, then cleaning may take less time. After descaling, it is installed back.
In the future, depending on the hardness of the water, the procedure is repeated every year or less. The same disassembly sequence is also performed when replacing a burnt-out heating element with a new one.
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