My mother has asked for me to see if anyone knows of a way to clean out your hot water heater tanks. She has used vinegar in her dishwasher, etc. for years and knows it works great on hard water build-up and she feels that if she could do this in her hot water tank it would extend it's life, etc. Anyone know of how to go about doing something like that?
I don't know how you would put vinegar into your hot water heater tank. The book on my last 2 water heaters say to drain about 5 gallons of water out of it once a month. (The reasoning is if there is sediment, it should come out with the water.)
I have found that cleaning with Vingar did the job well. It took me 24 hours to complete the task.
As for putting the vingar in, all you do is undo the cold water inlet and add about 6 gals to a 40 gal tank.
Heater now running good and free of cal-build up.
Time wel spent.... Chuck D
I find it strange no-one has posted more about puting vinegar into a hot water tank to clean hard water build-up.
Most hotwater tanks have a place to put an anode in,just undo that or take anode out,then pour in (using a funnel) your vinegar.I find it only takes about 3 litres maybe once a year up here in Northern British Columbia, Canada.
I find it strange no-one has posted more about puting vinegar into a hot water tank to clean hard water build-up.
Most hotwater tanks have a place to put an anode in,just undo that or take anode out,then pour in (using a funnel) your vinegar.I find it only takes about 3 litres maybe once a year up here in Northern British Columbia, Canada.
Then of course put the anode back in ...............and..... Bob's your unc..................all done
Put 6 gallons in water tank, have left for about 3 hours. Turned up the heat. Water emerges bubbled up. I guess from the PH neutralization and then turns blue.
Anyone have and answer for this. Expect to leave hot solution in over night and then drain through sinks and bath. Any one have some more visibility on this.
As a master plumber Rose is correct in saying to drain 5 galons to remove the sediment. If you have a lot trying jerking the water by shutting it off quickly then opening the drain, repeating a few times. Also while you remove the anode rod replace it with a new one. The anode rod absorbs the minerals protecting the tank from rusting. If you have dip tub particles or a large amount of sediment in the tank you can shut off the burner, completely drain the tank, remove drain and vacuum out the tank by attatching a small tube or pipe to your vacuum hose.
Hot water tanks can be cleaned there is equipment to do the job correctly. It does however take a professional to do it. They can be thoroughly cleaned and then can be fitted with a new anode and if necessary a new dip tube. The cost to do this is much less ten buying a new tank and if we are now into green it will save another tank from filling our land fills.
Since apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a little more alkaline than distilled white vinegar, most people use it. Although it is still acidic, it won't attack metal as quickly as other varieties of vinegar.
Heres how you can clean and flush water heater with vinegar
www.usawaterquality.org/
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I was wondering if you had any tips on how to get rid of the bacteria in the hot water heater? Thank you.
Angela
You didn't state your source of water to the hot water heater. We have well water in this rural town. Our water gets a gets a harmless bacteria that makes it smell bad. It also lives in the water heater making the hot water even worse. We pour about a cup of household chlorine bleach (not scented) into the well every 30 - 45 days. Any water that we use for drinking or cooking is run through a pur faucet filter.
When we first moved into our house our water heater had a bad odor ours. We turned off the power and the water supply to the water heater. Then hooked a garden hose to the botton of the heater and turned the valve on and drained the heater.
We have city water, and none of our neighbors have any problems with their water, so it's obviously something in my house - heater, pipes, drains etc. Thank you so much for your response, and if you think of anything else let me know! Thanks
How do you know you have bacteria in your water? Have you had your water quality checked? It might be worth paying for testing. It might not be your water heater. Check your water source first. I'd also drain the water heater, as in the post above.
