How To Clean A Water Heater

There are gallons upon gallons of water passing through everyday depositing minerals that can make it a tough job to clean a water heater. Using a dependable CLR cleaner can make the task easier. CLR stands for calcium, lime and rust – the three most common elements that find a home in your water heater. Using a CLR cleaner is a tried and true method because it will eat away at the mineral deposits that sit at the bottom of the tank without any scrubbing taking place, which, obviously couldn’t be done in an enclosed tank. You can find a dependable CLR cleaner in gallon size containers suitable for cleaning your water heater. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1 – Disconnect

Turn off the electric at the breaker box and mask off the switch to prevent anyone from turning it on while you are cleaning your water heater. Disconnect the water inlet pipe.

Step 2 – Drain Some Water

Take a water hose and attach it to the drain valve. Run the hose end to a basin where you can collect hot water. Open the drain valve after unscrewing the water supply line. Allow sufficient time for water to drain out of the heater into the basin. Once the water is drained, close the valve.

Step 3 – Pour in the Cleaner

Now, slowly pour a gallon of your selected CLR cleaner into the inlet pipe. Pour about a capful at a time allowing it to enter the pipe without overflowing.

Step 4 – Wait on the Cleaner

Allow five hours for the CLR cleaner to dissolve any mineral deposits that it can neutralize. Test for neutralization by placing a plastic bag over the inlet pipe and look to see if it inflates. If it does inflate, wait another hour to re-check. When the bag does not inflate, the CLR cleaner has been neutralized.

Step 5 – Rinse Heater

Rinse the heater by reconnecting the inlet pipe and open the valve. Make sure you allow water to run through the heater for several minutes to rinse it thoroughly.

Step 6 – Fill Heater

After closing the drain valve, turn on a faucet to fill the water heater. You will see soapy water exiting the faucet. Allow the water to continue flowing from the faucet until the bubbles disappear.

Step 7 – Open All Hot Water

Flush all air from the building’s water lines by turning on every hot water faucet. Allow the water to run for several minutes. You might see water gurgling out at first. Once the water is freely flowing, then turn off all hot water faucets.

Step 8 – Turn the Heater On

After checking to make sure all inlet and outlet connections are firmly secure, turn the breaker switch back on to restart the heater.

Tips to Remember

Don’t worry if you see bubbles for several days. The CLR cleaner has been neutralized and is extremely diluted now and will cause no harm.
To avoid frequent cleaning, flush your tank on a monthly basis. Consider installing a water softener if your water is consistently full of minerals.
If your water heater is more than seven years old, repeated cleaning may cause it to leak requiring a replacement.