Hot water tank

[happycamper1942]

My hot water tank has started acting up, just working intermittently.
I then discovered that you should flush it out periodically, My bad !
Anyway, when I flushed it out I discovered a lot of calcium deposits in it so I am thinking of using CLR to clean it.
Anyone have any experience with doing this, or any thoughts ??

[Timeking]

Saw this hot water tank string, and thought as a degreed chemist I might add that the anode should be MAGNESIUM not the Camco aluminum.

You can take an aluminum pot, put some sauce in it and heat it up on the stove, no problem. You take a pot made of magnesium, put some sauce in it, put it on the stove, and you've destroyed the stove if not had to call the fire department because your house is on fire. Or YOU are on fire.

[happycamper1942]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will not be using CLR.

[bob213]

If the OP's water heater is a Suburban a lot of that "calcium" could be broken down magnesium from his anode rod. I agree to clean with vinegar but make sure a new anode rod is installed. If it's an Atwood then just clean it...no rod.

[D_E_Bishop]

Read the DO NOT USE ON: warning on the CLR. NO USE ON Aluminum or Galvanized Metal. I have an aluminum tank, if you have glass lined steel, it's okay in the tank but watch out for that anode rod.

I'd go with the Vinegar with a Baking Soda rinse.

[theoldwizard1]

Lynnmor wrote:
You might want to describe "working intermittently" ...

Concur !

If you mean the burner does not always light, cleaning the inside if the tank will not help, but it still is a good idea !

[guidry]

laknox wrote:
X2 on the vinegar. While CLR isn't all that bad for you, why take a chance? A little vinegar never hurt anyone. :B

Lyle

I saw guy drink CLR straight from the container! My partner (cops) later shot the guy as he was running toward him with a weapon. The guy had a gunshot wound in groin and lost most of his intestine due to the CLR.

I'd suggest vinegar instead of CLR; nasty stuff.

[downtheroad]

Lots of salad dressings with vinegar.....not so many with CLR as an ingredient.
Like others said, use vinegar. It's much safer for your water system and for you.

[DutchmenSport]

I strongly advise AGAINST using any cleaning chemicals inside the water heater. Rinsing it all out will be challenging.

All you need to do is flush the tank out. Pull the drain plug, let the water go. After it's empty, get one of these (click here) attach to a garden hose, insert, and spray the inside of the tank. All those white particles of calcium will spew out the hole. No chemicals!

I have several old cloths washing machine hoses laying around (hot and cold). I took one of them and cut it in half since both ends are the female garden hose end, which fits perfect on a garden hose. This also give me 2 shorter hoses with no end on them.

The washing machine hoses with the end cut off fits perfect in the water heater drain plug hole and works great to flush it out.

Also, that same hose is great for filling your fresh water tank. Push that hose down the fill port and you don't have to stand there and hold the hose at the fill port. It slides down the tube and it also prevents air vacuums from happening when filling the fresh water tank.

Again, no chemicals in the water heater. You'll have a nightmare cleaning the chemicals out.

[Lynnmor]

You might want to describe "working intermittently" because deposits inside would have to be extreme to stop a water heater from working.

[BobKrogstie]

Here's a good video: Hot Water Heater Maintenance

[laknox]

X2 on the vinegar. While CLR isn't all that bad for you, why take a chance? A little vinegar never hurt anyone. :B

Lyle

[old_guy]

I think I would use vinegar instead of clr. if you don't get it all out of the tank I don't want it on my body while showering

[BiggestRon]

I found my hot water tank had a bad anode. When i removed it and looked inside I found a lot of calcium. I used VINEGAR which dissolved it then I flushed with clean water until the smell was gone.Vinegar doesn't hurt anything. You might have to repeat as required.

We use the same in our coffee pot.

Ron