Flushing the water heater. How to descale a water heater yourself. Boiler care and prevention

Regardless of how water gets into our house for domestic needs, whether it is a city network or an individual source of water supply (well, borehole), it has a certain hardness. Namely, it is dissolved in it chemical compounds alkaline earth metals. These salts are able to assemble into stable forms. The catalyst for their crystallization process is heat. As a result, scale forms in the water heater, deposits in the electric kettle and in other devices that use water heating using thermoelectric heating elements (TEHs).

Signs indicating that the boiler has not been descaled for a long time are:

Increasing the heating period of the water volume;
The occurrence of extraneous noise during operation;
Monthly electricity consumption increases significantly;
The liquid temperature does not reach the value set on the thermostat;
The safety valve often trips, indicating unauthorized overheating.

Periodic maintenance of water heaters can be performed independently; this requires a clear knowledge of the work algorithm. First, you need to disassemble the device, first disconnecting it from the power supply and water supply system. It should be noted that the outlet pipe cannot provide maximum liquid output when cleaning the storage water heater, this is due to the fact that hot water is drawn into the water heating tank from above. Therefore, emptying is carried out through the supply of cold water. The safety valve must be screwed together, since it simultaneously performs the function of a check valve. This ensures that the heating element is immersed in the liquid and prevents its premature failure.

Effective flushing of boilers is only possible with complete removal of the flange on which the heating elements are attached. Different manufacturers may use different numbers of mounting bolts, but they all use a spacer. It can be rubber or silicone. When removing the flange, care must be taken not to cause mechanical damage to this part. Otherwise, during assembly it will be impossible to achieve a sealed tank.

Next, cleaning the storage water heater continues in a horizontal position. The walls are washed under the pressure of water, using rags. You cannot use metal mesh for washing dishes, since the inner surface of the tank is enameled and such cleaning of the water heater will soon lead to destruction sheet metal, from which the tank is made.

Particular attention is paid to the lower part of the container. Scale usually settles to the bottom.

The video clearly introduces how cleaning an Ariston boiler takes place, with a really embodied sequence.

After cleaning the boiler with your own hands, proceed to washing the parts on the dismantled flange. It is quite easy to put in order the copper sleeve in which the element is placed to take temperature readings necessary for the correct operation of the thermostat. The heating elements themselves are much more difficult to clean, and cracks cannot be allowed to appear on them. If, after washing the heating elements, mechanical damage is detected on their surface. Heating elements should be replaced with new ones, which are purchased at service centers or on specialized Internet sites.

To level out the negative effects of stray electrical charges (Foucault currents), a magnesium anode is provided in the boiler. It is destroyed during long-term use, taking on discharges. When servicing the boiler yourself, you need to consider replacing it. The anode is attached using M4, M6 threads. It is screwed clockwise, so dismantling is carried out in the opposite direction.

After cleaning the boiler with your own hands, proceed to assembling the water heating unit in the reverse order. The flange part is assembled by hand, and then it is attached through a gasket to the tank. It is important to tighten the nuts with sufficient force to prevent leakage. An equally important point is filling the device. To do this, open a hot water tap at any point of consumption and wait until a stream appears.

Once again, after visually checking the tightness of all packaging connections and making sure that there are no drops on the bottom of the boiler, connect it to the electrical network. Thus, routine cleaning of the water heater in the video about which is presented can not only extend the service life of the device, but also increase its productivity. With the same electricity consumption, a serviced boiler will be able to heat more water, and its thermostat will more accurately meet the specified parameter.

2-3 years after purchase, any boiler needs comprehensive cleaning. The water heats up more slowly, without reaching the desired temperature, constant noise is heard from the boiler, and the device consumes more electricity. In almost all cases, the cause of these problems is scale and limestone deposits. By properly cleaning all elements of the boiler, you will be able to enjoy its trouble-free operation for many years.

The whole process can be divided into four stages:

Draining water

Unplug the appliance from the outlet, turn off the water supply valves and disconnect the water supply. After this, attach a tube to the check valve and drain the water.

Disassembling the boiler

We recommend removing it to the floor if possible. Disassembly this way is much easier and you will not flood the electrical wiring with water. Turn it upside down. If it is not possible to remove the boiler, then after completing the work it is necessary to completely dry the electrical wiring. You can use a regular hairdryer for this.

At this stage you should do the following:

Using two screwdrivers, remove the front panel. Pry the panel near the thermostat first, and the second on the other side. Thus, pull the panel towards you. After these manipulations, the elements securing it will bounce off;
Pull the thermostat knob towards you and remove it;
The protective panel is attached to the body with screws. Unscrew them and remove them. Underneath you will find all the electrics. We advise you to immediately take photographs of all the elements so that later there are no problems with reassembly;
Disconnect the power cord (there are bolts on the block that you need to loosen). After this, unscrew the block completely. Next, remove the grounding, turn off the thermostat and the heating flange, which is secured with six screws. Remove the flange and... This also removes the gasket.

Cleaning the tank

The procedure is quite simple. You scoop out the scale with your hands and thoroughly rinse the tank with water pressure. Before cleaning a magnesium rod, you should know its thread pitch and diameter. If something happens to it (the length decreases to 20 centimeters), you will have to buy a new rod.

Boiler assembly

After you have cleaned the boiler yourself, perform the above steps in reverse order. Before filling the tank with water, turn on the hot water. Water will flow from the tap when the tank is completely full. After this, turn on the tap.

Cleaning the heating element

The biggest danger to the boiler is scale. As, in general, for any water heating equipment. When you notice that the boiler has begun to heat the water an order of magnitude slower, the scale is already quite serious. Due to its poor thermal conductivity, it prevents water from heating. Even a 0.3 centimeter layer on the heating element causes heat loss by 10-15%. In this case, the efficiency of the device decreases by a quarter.

Mechanical cleaning occurs immediately after removing the heating element from the tank, while the part is still wet. Removing wet scale is much easier. If it hardens, the task becomes much more difficult. For mechanical cleaning, use a steel brush. Even a regular knife will do. Cleaning must be done as carefully as possible to avoid damaging the surface. When the layer of scale is removed, the heating element must be treated with cloth emery cloth. How well you clean the heating element determines how complete the heat transfer will be.

An electric kettle cleaner is great for dry cleaning. Take any enamel container. Please note that its depth is greater than the length of the heating element. Fill the container with water in the ratio indicated on the package and place the heating element there.

Even acetic acid is suitable for cleaning heating elements if you do not want to buy an expensive cleaning agent.

To make cleaning more effective, the container with the heating element can be placed on low heat. Some even use Pepsi and Coca-Cola and so on. Under any circumstances, chemicals must be prevented. products got on the rubber seals. This may cause a leak.

How to clean a boiler from scale from different manufacturers?

Of course, equipment from different manufacturers can differ quite a lot. Let's see how to clean a boiler from a particular company. In fact, the cleaning technology remains virtually unchanged compared to that described in the previous paragraph. But there are always certain nuances.

Ariston. The boilers of this company have certain nuances. The flange is attached differently here. In addition, it has a peculiar shape that does not allow it to be removed in the usual way. To do this, push the flange up, turn it upside down in the tank, and only then pull it out. When you have completed all the cleaning steps, reinstall the flange and check how tightly it is installed. If necessary, replace the gasket for a better seal. The main advantage of Ariston boilers is that the water heating elements are located in the lower part. This means that you don’t have to remove it from the wall before descaling the boiler.
Gorenje. The main problem encountered when cleaning a boiler is removing the front panel. Just pry up the bottom edge with a screwdriver and the panel will pop off. It is secured with just two clips. You also need to understand that boilers from this manufacturer are heavy. Removing it from the wall yourself will be very problematic. It's better to ask someone for help. And be sure to remove it and turn it over. It is impossible to clean while hanging. In addition, you risk flooding the electrical installation of the boiler with water.
Termex and Atlantic. Their boiler models differ little from others. Therefore, if you know how to descale an Ariston boiler, then work using the same method. The only thing you need to focus your attention on is the need to change the magnesium anode in Termex boilers once a year.

In any case, over time you will still have to clean the boiler. But compliance with operating standards can significantly increase the trouble-free operation of water heating equipment:

If you decide to drain the water from the boiler, read the instructions for it to know what the manufacturer says about this. Also, always focus on the individual characteristics of your model.
If you have just started cleaning, first disconnect the boiler from the power supply and wait until the water cools down.
When left idle for a long time, the water in the boiler smells bad. To avoid this, you need to pass about 100 liters through the tank at least once every 2-3 months. water. This will thoroughly clean the system. We also recommend regularly connecting the boiler to the mains and heating the water.
Clean with water once every few months if the boiler is idle.

Now you know how you can clean it yourself without involving a professional. By doing the work yourself, you will save your time and money. We always advise you to wear gloves and safety glasses. This way you will protect your skin and eyes from dirt and other harmful elements.

If you use a boiler for a very long time, but do not pay attention to proper care of it, then sooner or later scale will form on the inside of the product. It settles on the internal walls and heating elements, being the main factor causing boiler failure.

Before you start cleaning a water heating unit of any brand - Atlantic, Oasis or another - you should analyze the operation of the product, listen to the noise and check the quality of water heating.

The main “bells” signaling that it’s time to clean the product are the following factors:

the water takes a very long time to heat up;
its temperature changed - it became too hot, or vice versa;
the amount of electricity consumed by the boiler has increased, and the meter began to rewind kilowatts many times faster after the device was started;
overheating of the storage tank;
in case of frequent switching on and off of the device;
if you hear hissing from the boiler while heating the water.

Before cleaning the device, you need to drain all the water from it. This is the most important rule that must be followed without question before starting repair and cleaning work.

If the boiler is located above a bathtub or sink, then this position of the device greatly facilitates draining the water. You don’t have to select a suitable container or install it. And there will be much less splashing. However, not all devices make it easy to drain water, even under the above conditions.

If the heating element is screwed into the tank, then draining will be easy. But there are some models in which, before getting to the stage of draining the liquid, you will have to unscrew several nuts.

At correct installation and connecting the boiler immediately after purchase should not cause any problems. We need to act in a certain way.

Disconnect the power supply from the device and turn off the main water supply valve. Do the same with the tap located next to the water heater.
Turn on the hot water at a nearby faucet and wait until it drains completely.
Place a hose on the drain fitting and direct it into the sewer hole to drain water.

If there are no drains or taps, water is released through a safety valve. But this is a very long process. Therefore, you should first wait until the liquid cools completely.

The absence of a fitting is due to the need to drain by dismantling the hot pipe and completely disconnecting it from the water heater. After unscrewing the safety valve, air will enter the boiler, pushing out the water.

This method will solve the problem of quickly draining water from the device.

How to descale a boiler?

Scale is the biggest problem facing water heaters. Its removal must be timely. But how to clean a boiler at home? Similar work involves caring for heating elements (cleaning them) and water tanks (tanks).

1. Clean the heating element, which we previously removed from the device. Let's act in the following way.

We remove large pieces of scale using a kitchen knife, protect the surface by erasing residual small inclusions with sandpaper.
If it was not possible to clean the heating element mechanically, you can soak it in water with lemon powder dissolved there. Can act as a container plastic bottle with a pre-cut neck.
After complete cleaning, rinse the heating element with running water.

2. Clean the tank. Before you start working on removing scale from inside the tank, you need to inspect it. If scale has not strongly attacked the inner surface of the tank, then regular washing with water will do. Using a sponge, many contaminants are removed - mucus, upper soft layers of scale. Everything is washed off from the shower head.

If the tank is too dirty, you will have to seek the help of professional or folk remedies. As improvised methods, you can use acetic acid at the rate of 1 packet of product per liter of water. Fill the tank with the prepared solution and leave until the morning. Drain the liquid and rinse the tank thoroughly with water.

The inside of the tank is covered with enamel. It is susceptible to chemical components. Therefore, avoid abrasive substances and hard brushes.

Before you begin assembling the device, inspect the rubber seal. Its integrity must not be compromised. That is, there cannot be scratches, breaks, gouges, or plaque on it.

You need to reassemble in the reverse order from how you disassembled the device. It is better to coat all rubber parts with sealant, this will protect the device from leaking.

After installing the heating element, return the boiler to its original place. Open the hot water drain tap and turn on the cold water. When the boiler is full, check the seal.

The next step is to install the thermostat and connect the wires. A photograph taken earlier will help you. The procedure will be similar if you need to clean an indirect heating boiler.

How to clean an Ariston boiler?

The boiler of this model is cleaned in a few steps.

We completely de-energize the device - remove the plug from the socket or turn off the automatic fuse.
We interrupt the water supply by shutting off and drain all the liquid in the device.
After the water has completely drained, turn on the tap, while simultaneously opening the cold drain valve, which must first be put on the hose fitting.
We lower the hose into an empty bucket and open the hot drain valve.
We wait for the drain to finish, then remove the leads and leads (hot and cold) so that the fittings become free.
We lower the boiler to the floor, upside down.
We remove the fixing bolts holding the cover, thereby freeing access to the holes of the heating element.
The assembled wire diagram must be photographed so that later during assembly there will be no questions regarding their connection. We remove the wires from the device along with the thermostat.
Remove the heating element by pulling it out of the housing.
Fill a basin or bucket with water with dissolved descaling agents and lower the heating element into it. Before immersing in water, all thick layers of scale must be removed from the Ten.
Fill the tank with hot water with the addition of vinegar or citric acid.
Leave for several hours (ideally 8).
We drain all the liquid from the tank and return all the elements to their place.

An alternative to traditional lemon juice and vinegar can be an industrial solution, which is applied to the walls of the tank and left for a while to soften the scale.

If you do everything correctly, it will not be difficult to clean the boiler at home. To avoid damaging the device, pay attention to expert advice.

Take pictures of the contacts, then you won’t have to waste time and rack your brains over their correct connection.
If you have completely disassembled the boiler, take the time to inspect all the parts; perhaps some of them require replacement.
When washing with an industrial cleaning agent, read the instructions on the bottle before starting work.
If the heating element is very dirty, it will have to be changed.
Frequent breakdowns of water heaters will be prevented.
Before connecting the device to the network, always check the water level in the storage tank; it must be full.
Observe the operation of the device for a while after cleaning. If a water leak occurs, it will have to be fixed immediately.

How to choose the right boiler?

You should choose a boiler based on indicators such as:

type of device;
tank capacity (in liters);
heating element type;
product power;
material from which the body is made;
how much does the unit cost?

If you buy a water heater for the kitchen and only plan to use it to wash dishes, then a volume of 10-15 liters will be enough for you. But you won’t be able to take a bath or shower with such a device. A large family will be able to carry out all water procedures by purchasing a boiler with a volume of 50-80 liters.

Equally important should be paid to how much the manufacturer asks for his product. However, the fact remains: the price does not always justify the quality. Therefore, before purchasing, it would be a good idea to “browse” through various forums, where people who have bought this or that model of water heater talk about its positive or negative aspects.

Thus, cleaning a water heater at home is not a complicated procedure. Another thing is that it must be timely. Then the device will not only work smoothly, but will also last for a long time.

The instructions for any water heater always indicate that it needs to be descaled periodically. As a rule, it is recommended to contact a service center, but you can clean the boiler yourself.

Scale is a layer of hard calcium or loose magnesium carbonate salts that forms deposits on all types of surfaces. They enter the boiler in dissolved form along with water, and when heated above +40°C they precipitate. The above definition, of course, does not take into account all the nuances, but it fully reflects the mechanism of scale formation on heating elements and the inner walls of the boiler.

The layer of hard salts gradually increases, forming a kind of “fur coat”. It significantly reduces the heat transfer of the heating element (heating element in electric models) or heat exchanger (in gas and other types of water heaters), thereby increasing the consumption of electricity or fuel to maintain the desired temperature.

A layer of scale of 1 mm increases resource consumption by 10%, and with a thickness of salt deposits of 10 mm this figure increases to almost 70%.

Of course, this has a negative impact on the water heater. The consequence is increased wear and tear of equipment, reduced service life, failure of many parts, primarily heating elements and rubber seals.

Many people mistakenly believe that since a magnesium anode is installed in the water heater, scale does not form and cleaning is not required. However, it is intended for something else, namely to protect the tank from corrosion, and also contributes to the conversion of solid carbonate salts CaCO 3 into loose MgCO 3 or Mg(OH) 3. Soft deposits are much easier to remove from any surface.

The next step is to thoroughly clean all surfaces. First of all, you need to treat the heating element, since scale is easier to remove when wet. Carefully clean off the layer with a knife or iron brush, being careful not to damage the surface of the heating element. Finally, sand with zero or 1 grit sandpaper.

Be sure to clean the inside of the tank. To do this, the drive is removed directly, all the “filling” is removed and the inside is carefully washed with a stream of water using chemicals.

You should also pay attention to the magnesium anode - if necessary, it is better to replace it with a new one.

The last stage is assembling the water heater and installing it back. The correct installation of gaskets, thermostat, sensors and heating elements is checked. When reinstalling, it is recommended to tighten the bolts crosswise. After this, you can connect the unit to the water supply, turn on the water supply and check for leaks.

Would you like to clean your water heater but need a visual guide? Watch the video below:

Thorough cleaning and replacement of the heating element is shown in the following video:

Remember that timely cleaning and maintenance of the water heater extends its service life by at least 1.5 times and significantly improves the quality of operation.

How to clean a boiler with your own hands

From time to time it is worth inspecting the water heater and descaling it. You can clean the boiler either yourself or by calling professional technicians, since many companies that repair water heaters provide this type of service.

If you decide to clean the boiler yourself, without resorting to the help of strangers, then you should know how to do it correctly and what products can be used.

It is recommended to descale your water heater at least once every couple of years. During this procedure, the electric heating element is also inspected. If the heating element is heavily rusted and has serious defects on the walls, then it is recommended to replace it without waiting until .

So, you can clean the boiler from debris and scale in two ways - without disassembling it and vice versa, by completely draining the water and dismantling the heating element. It must be said right away that the first method of descaling a boiler at home is ineffective and it is better to choose the second method, which involves disassembling it.

Before performing this work you need to know. To do this, the liquid must be cooled, and the equipment to do the work will require a hose and an empty container. The process of draining water from the boiler looks like this:

First, the device is completely de-energized;
Then the cold water tap installed in front of the boiler is turned off;
After this, a hose is connected at one end to the safety valve of the water heater;
The hot water mixer opens to allow air to enter the water supply system;
The water is drained into a container prepared in advance for this purpose.

After the water has been completely drained, you can begin to decide how to descale the boiler at home.

The water is drained, the boiler is empty, it’s time to start cleaning it. Here you can go two ways - remove the water heater from the wall for convenience, or clean it without removing it. To get inside the boiler, you need to unscrew the nut holding the heating element using a metal plate.

Once the electric heating element and flange are dismantled, using a rag and your hands, you need to remove all dirt and other deposits from the boiler. The top layer of scale in the boiler can be removed quite easily, but as for the bottom layer, to get rid of it completely, it is better to prepare a special cleaning solution.

To prepare it you will need half a kilogram of citric acid, which is then dissolved in 2 liters of water. After pouring this cleaning solution into the boiler, you need to wait a while, then rinse the water heater with plenty of water.

The boiler is assembled in the reverse order of disassembly. Before putting the boiler into operation, check it and make sure there are no leaks.