how can I dissolve the calcium deposit in the pipes

tudorsailor

tudorsailor

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The pipe from the toilet to the header tank has become narrowed by calcification. What is the best way to dissolve the crud? I know that some recommend putting vinegar down the toilet occasionally, but I assume that this is preventative. Does it really stop the process??

Thanks

Tudorsailor
 
In Spain there is a product 'agua fuerte' a dilution of hydrochloric acid. In UK I understand it is sold as brick cleaner. I've been using it for a couple of years on our live on it yacht with no problem and keeps the discharge pipe clear.

Hope this helps!!
 
capnsensible said:
In Spain there is a product 'agua fuerte' a dilution of hydrochloric acid. In UK I understand it is sold as brick cleaner. I've been using it for a couple of years on our live on it yacht with no problem and keeps the discharge pipe clear.

Hope this helps!!
Click to expand...

+1, use it all the time to keep my pipes clear.
 
If the pipe is already narrowed two methods work well. Remove pipe and beat against wall until all calcification falls out, or with pipe in situ dose with Hydrochloric acid (brickcleaner) sold in all french supermarkets and some B&Qs.
If you use vinegar for the big hit you'll need lots and it will take quite a long time, HCl is quick and quite spectacular.

If using acid make sure you have an open system or you could get a dangerous build up of pressure.

When this is done then regular doses of vinegar are reputed to keep problem at bay. I prefer to use Hydrochloric once a year.

Usual warnings, gloves, goggles and a copious water source (hose) if using strong acid.
 
Hydrochloric acid will be the quickest and most effective way of removing calcium carbonate deposits.

As said some brick and masonry cleaners are based on hydrochloric acid, although some are not.

Check the labels and the materials safety data sheets.

An adequate amount of flushing should go a long way towards preventing scaling in the first place. It is the result bacterial action on nitrogen compounds in urine producing ammonia which raises the pH and causes the calcium carbonate to be formed.

Regular flushing with a weak acid such as acetic acid in vinegar will help to keep the system scale free.
 
Beware of using hydrochloric acid if the pipe is fairly blocked - you may end up with a pipe full of acid to deal with. Also, if there is already lots of scale, you may just dislodge it and block the seacock. With significant buildup, removal of pipe and thrashing is the better route.
 
Vara said:
If the pipe is already narrowed two methods work well. Remove pipe and beat against wall until all calcification falls out, or with pipe in situ dose with Hydrochloric acid (brickcleaner) sold in all french supermarkets and some B&Qs.
If you use vinegar for the big hit you'll need lots and it will take quite a long time, HCl is quick and quite spectacular.

If using acid make sure you have an open system or you could get a dangerous build up of pressure.

When this is done then regular doses of vinegar are reputed to keep problem at bay. I prefer to use Hydrochloric once a year.

Usual warnings, gloves, goggles and a copious water source (hose) if using strong acid.
Click to expand...

You say HCL is quick and spectacular. I tried it a couple of times this year, having been in the med for 2 years. No bubbling sounds . nothing at all. Does this mean my pipes are clean?
 
Muriatic acid is an old name for hydrochloric acid.

Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas in water.
That's why even concentrated hydrochloric acid is only about 36% HCl
 
VicS said:
Muriatic acid is an old name for hydrochloric acid.

Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas in water.
That's why even concentrated hydrochloric acid is only about 36% HCl
Click to expand...

Wasnt it also once called "spirits of salts"? and sulphuric "oil of vitriol".
 
How do you apply the stuff... just pour it in the bowl and pump it through???

Forgive my chemical ignorance..
 
ccscott49 said:
Wasnt it also once called "spirits of salts"? and sulphuric "oil of vitriol".
Click to expand...

Yes, the action of Sulphuric will be broadly similar on the scale with the down side of the acid being rather more aggressive to any metal in the mix.

Not recommended.
 
Last edited:
photodog said:
How do you apply the stuff... just pour it in the bowl and pump it through???

Forgive my chemical ignorance..
Click to expand...

For maintenance, yes that works quite well, with a very heavy deposit it doesn't expose the scale to the acid for long enough so disconnect from heads,raise end,close sea cock and pour acid into pipe, taking care as there will be some foaming and frothing, open sea cock, and flush through.

On heavy deposits I prefer the beating pipe against wall as being effective and safer.

It's very strange some boats don't seem to scale up at all. I suspect it may be a function of the waste pipe material.
 
photodog said:
How do you apply the stuff... just pour it in the bowl and pump it through???

Forgive my chemical ignorance..
Click to expand...

Most continental supermarkets and DIY shops sell dilute HCl, usually in 500 ml bottles. I usually buy two (it's amazingly cheap (30 cents), far more economical and effective than vinegar). I tip about half of the first bottle down the toilet, pump a couple of times, wait for the gassing to die down, pump a couple of times, then add the rest of the first bottle. The acid has now got past the joker valve and is rising up the loop, gas can be seen bubbling out of the seacock. When this dies down continue with the second bottle.

Problem now is that the loop will be clear to the top but the downstream leg to the seacock has not been cleaned. I try to almost close the seacock to catch some acid but it is not terribly successful. If you can remove the hose from the toilet end as Vara suggests there is no problem but on my boat this would take a full day and a great deal of cursing.
 
Aha, a chemitunity!

Whamming HCL down the pipe is ok...but as some say - how does it stay in the pipe long enuf to dissolve the calcium, hm? And the answer is that it doesn't, if the clac is thick. You have to bend and crack the pipe to loosen it, or disco the pipe and smash it around to get a clean pipe.

If you have an electric toilet, and a large liquid lunch, you may be tempted to shut the outlet and put the HCL down the pipe, to sort of make sure it stays there and dissolves everything. Then, the joker valve turns itself inside out and the now-pressurised discharged pipe and HCL< and semi-dissolved content erupt out of the toilet and wreck the nice clothes you were wearing and do other damage to the loo. So, er, don't do that....
 
tudorsailor said:
The pipe from the toilet to the header tank has become narrowed by calcification. What is the best way to dissolve the crud? I know that some recommend putting vinegar down the toilet occasionally, but I assume that this is preventative. Does it really stop the process??

Thanks

Tudorsailor
Click to expand...


We use a Yachticom product whisch claims "Fur allen problem mit kalk," It is a very weak acid akin to lemon juice. I think it is called Clean a tank or some such name,.

We have a holding tank that we fill with the appropriate solution. We the let a small amount at a time into the pipes so that it sits over the various valves and stopcocks for an hour or so at a time. Don't rush it.

It works well. Our pipes stay calc free and so do the stopcocks.
 
franksingleton said:
We use a Yachticom product whisch claims "Fur allen problem mit kalk," It is a very weak acid akin to lemon juice. I think it is called Clean a tank or some such name,.

We have a holding tank that we fill with the appropriate solution. We the let a small amount at a time into the pipes so that it sits over the various valves and stopcocks for an hour or so at a time. Don't rush it.

It works well. Our pipes stay calc free and so do the stopcocks.
Click to expand...

HERE IT IS.

Citric acid based.

Hopefully there be another stockist somewhere so as to avoid the Marine muddle store.
 
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