The boiler should be cleaned every few years. If you use the water heater intensively, and the water quality leaves much to be desired, you need to wash the product more often. Of course, it is easier to ask plumbers for help, but if you want to save money, you can do the cleaning yourself.
Why clean the boiler?
Regular maintenance of the boiler is the key to its long and high-quality work. Hard water does not dissolve detergents well, it also tends to form scale, which does not conduct heat well. The heating element, located in the storage tank, is covered with a thin layer of lime over time. It starts to work worse, power consumption increases. If the element is not cleaned at the same time, scale will settle on its surface and penetrate into all available places. Such a coating is not only difficult to remove - it seals the heating element and leads to significant interruptions in operation. There may be no heat transfer at all.
The protection relay is activated, the device turns off. Running cases may end up with the need to repair boilers. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary totimely cleaning.
When should I clean?
The boiler should be cleaned about once every two years. Start the process if you notice the following outages:
- appliance takes too long to heat water or turns off frequently;
- boiler emits a loud hissing noise when operating;
- yellow liquid with the smell of hydrogen sulfide pours out of it.
If you use the water heater at maximum temperatures, you will have to clean it more often (scale and build-up on the tank form faster). To prolong the life of the appliance, heat the water to 60-70 degrees Celsius.
Another good advice - to reduce the number of breakdowns, do not buy water heaters with heating elements made of ferrous and galvanized metals. Such parts resist rust worse and do not cope well with heating water.
Give preference to magnetic thermostats.
Drain water
Before you clean the boiler, you must get rid of all the liquid inside it. If the water heater is located directly above the bath, you can put a large container under it and drain the water while removing the heating element. Examine the boiler device: if the electric heater is screwed into the tank, carry out two procedures at the same time. If, in order to remove the heating element, it is necessary to unscrew a few nuts, it is better to drain the water in advance. With the correct connection to the water supply, there should be no problems with cleaning.
- Be sure to turn off the devicefrom the mains, turn off the general water supply tap.
- Shut off the cold water, on the nearest faucet turn on the hot water and wait for it to drain.
- Connect the tube to the drain fitting, direct it to the sewer, open the faucet and drain the water.
There is another option - if there are no taps and drain pipes, empty the tank using the safety valve. Cleaning the boiler with your own hands in this way is a long process, so it's best to wait until the water cools down. If there is no fitting, disconnect the hot water pipe and substitute a bucket. Gradually unscrew the safety valve until liquid flows out of it.
Preparing for cleaning
Cleaning a water heater is not a very difficult process, and you can do it yourself. After all the water has been drained, disassemble and pull out the heating element. To do this, remove the decorative cover (most often it is attached with screws). In some models of boilers, the parts we need are covered with a plastic panel. It is held on latches - just pry the bar with a screwdriver.
Take a picture of the connection diagram so that after the procedure you can return everything back. Disconnect the wires to expose the thermostat. Get it out.
Scaling is the number one enemy of boilers. If the heating element is not periodically cleaned, it can permanently fail. Timely cleaning of the heating element will save you from wasting money and significantly extend the life of the device. Carefully remove the heating element. Next to him you will seeannon, which protects the inside of the tank from corrosion. See if it's intact. If not, replace the part with a new one.
Cleaning the heater
Cleaning the boiler should be done immediately - wet scale is much easier to remove than hardened. The bulk will be located at the heating element. There are several ways to clear an element.
- Remove the dirt by hand. Remove the upper thick layer of scale from the surface of the heating element with a knife or a stiff brush. Be careful not to damage the surface of the element with sudden and careless movements. After that, you can process the heating element with sandpaper - the cleaner it is, the better it will work.
- You can buy a huge amount of descaling products in the store. It is better to purchase a cleaner for electric kettles - the principle of its operation is the same as that of a boiler. Take any enameled container, add liquid (read about the proportions on the package beforehand). Leave for a while.
- Instead of ready-made funds, you can use the following. Fill a small container with a solution of citric or acetic acid. Place the element in a bottle and leave for a day. To increase the cleaning efficiency, place the container with the heating element on low heat (30 minutes).
Cleaning the heating tank
Flushing boilers from the inside is as important as cleaning the heating element. Substitute a bucket, open a cold water faucet and wait until it washes away the remaining scale from the water heater. For convenience, you can remove the device from the wall.
If the dirt is especially heavy, remove the scale manually. Do not use abrasive products or hard objects - this is unacceptable for the enameled surface. Do not touch the magnesium rod, if something happens to it, you will have to buy a new part. If it is not possible to remove the scale, it is necessary to dismantle the device and clean it with chemical means.
After cleaning, assemble and connect the water heater. Remember: all parts must be dry.
Auxiliaries
It is not so easy to take out the copper heat exchanger from the indirect heating device, and conventional large-capacity models can be taken apart and reassembled all day long. In this case, cleaning the boiler with chemicals will help, without disassembling and removing the device.
Visit the store and buy a product designed specifically for this purpose. Alternatively, you can prepare a concentrated solution of citric acid (half a kilogram of acid per 2 liters of water). It doesn't matter what you choose.
To pour the product inside, empty the container by a third through the hot water tap. Connect the hose to the drain fitting and pour the solution through it, while raising the end of the pipe above the boiler. Leave for a few hours. Then drain the solution and rinse the tank, draining the water several times and filling it again. Connect the appliance, heat the water and drain it again. The water heater is ready to go.
Important Tips
Cleaning the boiler is a simple process, but it is better not to carry out the procedure alone - water heaters can be veryheavy.
- If you use chemicals, make sure that they do not come into contact with the rubber seals - they may lose elasticity, causing the boiler to leak.
- Double check every operation you perform. The water heater will not work after assembly if done incorrectly.
- Only connect or disconnect the power when the water tank is full.
- When you finish flushing, fill the boiler with water and wait for a while. If the flange does not leak, great, you can use the device.
- If you use chemicals, be sure to wear gloves and a face shield.
Now you know how to clean the boiler without calling the master. This is a fairly simple and relatively quick process that any owner can handle. The main thing is to carry out this operation in a timely manner so that the device serves you for a long time. Remember: professional boiler repairs are expensive.
