How to Remove Calcium From Your Water Heater in Three Steps

Hard water causes calcium buildup inside your water heater. It’s not uncommon for households in the United States to have hard water. While hard water is not typically harmful to consume, it can damage your appliances.

Routine water heater maintenance will remove calcium buildup and extend the life of your unit.

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Iron Mountain Plumbing offers water heater services in St. George, UT. Whether you want to upgrade to a more efficient water heater or you want a professional to remove calcium deposits from your existing unit, we are up to the challenge.

What Causes Calcium Buildup?

Hard water is caused by an overabundance of minerals in your water supply, namely calcium and magnesium. Hard water wreaks havoc on your plumbing system, causing damage to appliances if left untreated.

When hard water minerals enter your hot water heater, they adhere to various areas, including the thermostat and the tank itself. The minerals insulate the tank in a bad way, inhibiting proper heat transfer. A compromised water heater will work overtime and you will still not have enough hot water for a hot shower.

The longer calcium builds up in your hot water heater, the more damage it can cause. It can build up on the thermostat, preventing your hot water heater from maintaining a safe temperature. It can cause the small components to wear out prematurely and result in a complete water heater malfunction.

It’s easy to neglect your hot water heater until it stops working completely. To take care of your hot water heater and avoid costly repair bills, schedule regular hot water heater maintenance. A professional can thoroughly remove calcium buildup before it causes serious damage.

Signs of Excess Calcium in Your Hot Water Heater

Before you can remove calcium buildup, you need to know how to identify the signs. Calcium builds up slowly over time, and your water heater will begin to show signs of buildup along the way. Here are some signs that it’s time to remove calcium from your water heater:

Poor Water Quality

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When mineral deposits build up in your water supply, you will notice it with your nose first. Your water may start to smell like sulfur, metal, or even dirt. It may also look discolored, which is always a cause for alarm.

New, Alarming Noises

Calcium attaches itself to components inside your water heater as it slowly builds up. Over time, small bits break off and float loose. When your water heater starts clanging and popping, it is a result of these calcium deposits.

Inefficient Water Heater

As calcium builds up, your water heater has to work harder than it should. It could struggle to maintain the water temperature, leaving you with no hot water halfway through your shower. Allowing your water heater to continue to work against calcium buildup will cause it to wear out prematurely.

Skyrocketing Energy Bill

When your water heater works harder than it should due to calcium buildup, you will see it reflected in your monthly energy bill. If your bill is suddenly much higher than usual, your water heater is overdue for cleaning.

Removing Calcium Buildup

Once you know the signs to look for, you can remove calcium buildup from your water heater. Basic calcium removal just requires some vinegar along with a little time and patience.

Step 1: Prepare for Cleaning

Disconnect the power supply by turning off the breaker and unplugging the water heater. Look at the bottom of your water heater and locate the drain valve. Attach a hose to the valve to prepare for draining.

Open the valve, watching for white specks of calcium. If you see white specks, you know for sure your hot water heater has calcium buildup and needs thorough cleaning.

Step 2: Apply Vinegar

After all the water empties from the tank, pour white vinegar through the cold water intake hose. Let the vinegar remain inside the tank for several hours as it dissolves the calcium.

Step 3: Flush the Tank

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Once the vinegar has had enough time to work on the calcium, you can drain and refill the tank. Once the tank is full of hot water, turn on one of your faucets and inspect the water flow. You should notice an increase in your water quality, with clear, odorless, and tasteless water flowing easily from the faucet.

How to Prevent Calcium Buildup

Once you remove calcium from your hot water heater, you want to take every measure to prevent calcium buildup. One way to prevent buildup is to simply follow the above steps every six months to flush the system. When your life gets busy, you may not have the time to commit to servicing your own hot water heater twice a year.

Installing a whole home water filter is a great way to remove all sorts of contaminants from your water supply. A filter can improve taste and maintain the life of your appliances.

A water softener in addition to a water filter covers all aspects of water pollutants. A water softener specifically removes hard water elements, like calcium.

A well-maintained hot water heater can last at least 15 years. If your hot water heater is older than 15 years old and has chronic repair needs, it could be time to upgrade to a newer, energy efficient model.

Professional Water Heater Maintenance

Now you know how to identify calcium buildup, how to prevent future buildup, and how to remove it in three easy steps. Reducing calcium buildup as much as possible will extend the life of your hot water heater and prevent expensive repair costs.

The best way to remove calcium from your water heater is by scheduling regular maintenance from a professional. During service, our qualified technicians will clean the unit and inspect it for damage, including calcium buildup. If we catch it early, calcium buildup is easier to remove than if it goes neglected for months or years.

When you need reliable water heater repair including calcium buildup removal, contact Iron Mountain Plumbing in St. George, UT, by calling 435-990-4418.

Author Bio:Daniel TannerOwner / Managing Member. Iron Mountain Plumbing is located in Cedar City, Utah. This organization primarily operates in the Plumbing Contractors business / industry within the Construction – Special Trade Contractors sector.

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