GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

cleaning inside hot water tank

Trevor_Lambert | Posted in General Questions on

I am trying to extend the life of my electric hot water tank. I drained it, and replaced the sacrificial anode. I tried to flush the tank out with cold water, however the drain got plugged pretty quickly. This tells me there’s a lot of sediment, and getting it out isn’t going to be easy. I’m guessing I’ll need to pour in some kind of scale remover to break it down into bits small enough as to make it out the drain. I’m guessing it’s also a good idea to clean the elements.

Any product recommendations?

Should I remove the elements to clean them, or try to clean them in place with the scale remover? The latter will require a lot of water and a lot of scale remover, especially for the top element. On the other hand, removing them could also be risky if they are corroded in place.

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. tommay | | #1

    If the drain valve is getting clogged, loosen the packing nut and pull the stem out part way or all the way. Then either turn the cold water back on and blast it out or stick something in the valve to clear it.....

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |