Cleaning lime scale from the hot water system

[Nostrodamus]

So the water has been turned off on the pontoons for a week and a half to prevent it freezing and we have just run out of the stuff.

Rather thn looking at it as a bad thing I thought it might be a good time to clean the system.

I was wondering about the hot water tank and the electrical heating element.

I know from the kettle there is lots of lime scale here so I imagine the element and tank are furred up more than Rum Pirates tongue after night out.

Is there a way to clean it without taking it out or indeed is there a way to get the lime scale out?

Anyone ever cleaned their tank and what was it like?

 

[chinita]

Can't help you with the cleaning but you should consider having a spare element on board.

Mine went in Spain and I found it impossible to source.

Try to get someone to post it out from UK. Not expensive and available from plumber's merchants.

 

[tim_ber]

So the water has been turned off on the pontoons for a week and a half to prevent it freezing and we have just run out of the stuff.

Rather thn looking at it as a bad thing I thought it might be a good time to clean the system.

I was wondering about the hot water tank and the electrical heating element.

I know from the kettle there is lots of lime scale here so I imagine the element and tank are furred up more than Rum Pirates tongue after night out.

Is there a way to clean it without taking it out or indeed is there a way to get the lime scale out?

Anyone ever cleaned their tank and what was it like?

Buy citric acid (local pharmacy). Add hot water. Watch the fizz and sparkling metal appear. Much cheaper than Calgon etc.

Try it in your kettle first and you will be amazed.

 

[Nostrodamus]

Buy citric acid (local pharmacy). Add hot water. Watch the fizz and sparkling metal appear. Much cheaper than Calgon etc.

Try it in your kettle first and you will be amazed.

Thank you.. they have that on the shelves everywhere here and I wondered what it was for.. can you use it for anything else?

 

[tim_ber]

Thank you.. they have that on the shelves everywhere here and I wondered what it was for.. can you use it for anything else?

I believe it is used in jam manufacture (but I could be wrong, perhaps some other type of cooking...)

 

[chinita]

Thank you.. they have that on the shelves everywhere here and I wondered what it was for.. can you use it for anything else?

I have used it for cleaning s/s - but someone will be along shortly to tell me that my pulpit will now fall off!

 

[SimonJ]

Thank you.. they have that on the shelves everywhere here and I wondered what it was for.. can you use it for anything else?

We used to use it ship's evaporators (machinery to heat sea water to distil fresh water)to try and avoid build up of salt deposits on the heating elements & remove same.

I use it to remove salt water deposits from my raw water cooled engine and also my 2 stroke outboard motor. In the latter case I put the motor horizontal and 'inject' a citric acid solution into the cooling water telltale pipe. Citric acid is fairly benign (in other respects) - lots in coke (the drink I hasten to add) hence the cleaning ability of coke, I think!
I always have some citric acid crystals onboard.

 

[Nostrodamus]

We used to use it ship's evaporators (machinery to heat sea water to distil fresh water)to try and avoid build up of salt deposits on the heating elements & remove same.

I use it to remove salt water deposits from my raw water cooled engine and also my 2 stroke outboard motor. In the latter case I put the motor horizontal and 'inject' a citric acid solution into the cooling water telltale pipe. Citric acid is fairly benign (in other respects) - lots in coke (the drink I hasten to add) hence the cleaning ability of coke, I think!
I always have some citric acid crystals onboard.

How do you use it in your engine?

 

[chinita]

How do you use it in your engine?

It is good for loosening the last nut

 

[Nostrodamus]

It is good for loosening the last nut

The little bugger was given a sea burial without honours and there is a nice new shiny rounded one in its place.