Recently, your water heater has not coped with your duties so quickly, although you installed it only a year and a half ago? So, it's time to ask how to clean the water heater from scale. And the knowledge to apply in practice, that is, not to call the master, but to do it solely on their own.

Why clean

Many homes, especially private ones, use a water heater. But after a year and a half or two (it depends on the quality of the water in your running water), you must clean it from the scum. Why?

Over time, the TEN is covered with a thin film of calcareous coating - exactly the one that is collected in your electric kettle. The layer is constantly thickening, the heating element heats the water more slowly. Increased electricity consumption - the first signal that the water heater would be a good idea to clean. And to take a hot bath you will already have to spend 10-25% more electricity.

If you do not pay attention to the first alarm bell, the thickening process of the scale layer continues happily. Here already on TEN formed a dense crust of scale, which does not allow it to heat water. The spiral overheats, the protective relay disconnects the water heater, even when the water has not warmed up sufficiently. This is the next signal that it is time to clean the appliance from the dangerous scale.

How to clean

Completely disconnect the water heater from the mains. Close the tap that supplies cold water to the unit. Drain all the water from the tank: on the drain valve put the hose and bring it into the tub, toilet. Open the valve, unscrew the water supply pipe. Depending on the volume of the tank you will have to wait 15-30 minutes, until all the water is gone. Carefully remove the cover, disconnect the wires and unscrew the thermal relay.

Now unscrew the nuts that hold the flange plate. Be sure to replace the container in order to collect the remaining water in it. Flange push up. Put your hand inside, turn it over, pull it out through the hole.

It is asymmetric, so be sure to remember its focus: useful when assembling the device after you can clean the water heater.

Mechanical method

When you finally have a heating element in your hands, you can estimate the quality of tap water. Do not wait until it dries. Carefully remove the wet layer of scale with a metal brush.

If there is no such tool on the farm, you can clean it with a wooden spatula, with a knife. After the operation to remove the plaque, polish the TEN also with sandpaper. Remember, the cleaner the surface, the less electricity the water heater will consume.

Chemical method

Select the tank, the depth of a little more than the length of the heating element. Use any descaling agent. Suitable even means that you use to clean the electric kettle. For example, add acetic acid (:) into the water. Heat the solution, lower the heater into it. Be careful that the acid does not get on the rubber bands and does not damage them. After half an hour (see the state of the TEN surface), pull the element out of the solution and rinse. Wipe dry before installing.

Pay attention to the state of the anode. It protects the metal from rusting, so if the anode is destroyed (and it happens), replace it.

Remove all dirt from the tank. It is up to you to decide whether to clean the walls of the appliance from scum. The fact is that the lime scale on the walls protects the water heater and prolongs its "life". First, the scum does not allow rust to reach the inner metal surface. Secondly, it serves as an additional insulating layer, which helps to keep the water temperature in the tank longer.

Now it remains to assemble the water heater in the reverse order. The main thing is that you remember how to properly install the flange of the device. You can focus on the position of the terminal. And do not forget to check the unit for leaks after you assemble the "designer".

It is done! The boiler again quickly heats up, it is possible the following one and a half-two years to sleep easy.