[AKdaplumba]

Aren’t you a plumber?

What makes you think I know everything?

 

[stevolandis]

In this area we get thick slabs of sediment buildup that will not flush out. Customer complaints about the deep rumbling sound when hot water is used.
I'm hoping to come up with a way to break up those chunks and flush it out.
Bursting the cold on and off in an empty tank doesn't do it.

One method I just saw was a drill powered tool that would whip a cable around in there while flushing water. Nice idea but it's an extra plastic tool and I would be concerned with damaging the plastic dip tube, anode rod, and the inside of the tank.

Anybody try this out?

The method I want to try is using mini jetter.

Pull the anode rod, drain down the heater, and swap out to a full port drain valve.
My 1/4 forward only jet nozzle will squeeze in the 3/4" FIP opening. Maybe use some 1/4 copper or brake line to make a rigid extension. Blast through all that caked up sediment and drain it out.

Using tools I already have and coordinate with an anode rod replacement if needed. Seems less risky than whipping a cable around in there.
Anybody use someone like this in the past?

One day I need to cut the top off a scrap heater and give it a try.

 

[skoronesa]

Last summer I spent an hour and a half cleaning out lime build up from a less than 2yr old heater!!! We installed it less then 2 years prior. The lower element burnt out from being submerged in Lime flakes. One of our HVAC techs changed the element but didn't clean any lime flakes out. 2 months later the new element burnt out. I got sent to replace it again.

I used a piece of 3/4" copper with my shop vac to suck up what I broke apart with a piece of rebar. I did all of this through the lower element bung and the drain bung. I also used my 18" long, 3/8" pilot bit to drill in and break it up. I filled a 5 gallon bucket. I had to leave a couple gallons in there to either side of the hole that I couldn't reach because of the angle.

 

[stevolandis]

Last summer I spent an hour and a half cleaning out lime build up from a less than 2yr old heater!!! We installed it less then 2 years prior. The lower element burnt out from being submerged in Lime flakes. One of our HVAC techs changed the element but didn't clean any lime flakes out. 2 months later the new element burnt out. I got sent to replace it again.

I used a piece of 3/4" copper with my shop vac to suck up what I broke apart with a piece of rebar. I did all of this through the lower element bung and the drain bung. I also used my 18" long, 3/8" pilot bit to drill in and break it up. I filled a 5 gallon bucket. I had to leave a couple gallons in there to either side of the hole that I couldn't reach because of the angle.

Depending on what's in there may be too hard for a little jetter to break up. If you had to drill into it too break it apart. That's some hard water!

 

[sparky]

Its my house. It grumbles/rumbles for a half second to a few seconds. I also did install an expansion tank back in October.
It sounds like turbulent flow, like a vibration. Isnt water hammer when a fixture is turned off not on?

Calcium buildup in the tank

 

[hewhodigsholes]

I don't know if this would work, but it might be worth testing on a junk heater.

Drain it down halfway, cap the hot. Then dump some Haymaker in it and let set for awhile. Drain and rinse.

 

[MACPLUMB777]

A. O. SMITH Has food grade acid that dissolves Lime build up

 

[stevolandis]

Here's an old AO Smith manual for it. Not sure how many of those items are available. Interesting process though. Similar to descaling a tankless

Have you ever used that de-lime?

Around here I haven't seen a way to remove the caked slabs of mineral deposit. Would be nice to have an option.

https://www.hotwater.com/resources/...r-scale-from-tanks-service-handbook-(4800r9)/

 

[stevolandis]

We pump vinegar to descale tankless up here. Would Haymaker or AO Smith Un-lime do something different?

 

[hewhodigsholes]

We pump vinegar to descale tankless up here. Would Haymaker or AO Smith Un-lime do something different?

Haymaker is certainly more aggressive than vinegar. We have hard water and can descale a tankless in about 20 min with it.

 

[skoronesa]

We use 35% HydroChloric acid on tankless and coils.

 

[sparky]

Check the little rubber flaps in the cold inlet/diptube.



@sparky Would recommend replacing the plastic diptube with some 3/4" OD copper, I'd have to agree. Just kidding on the diptube, but might as well check that too while you're in there.

No,1/2” flared copper for dip tube lololo

 

[sparky]

I don't know if this would work, but it might be worth testing on a junk heater.

Drain it down halfway, cap the hot. Then dump some Haymaker in it and let set for awhile. Drain and rinse.

I would just replace with a new heater if it’s that bad