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Water heater units are expensive investments. Scale buildups in water heating units is a problem that occurs if you have access to the hard water supply. Modesto plumbers recommend flushing the water heater unit every six months and even more often if you have extremely hard water.
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium appearing as white particles that end up building up inside a hot water tank with time. This mineral and scale buildup can decrease the lifespan of your water heater unit, and affect its efficiency. Moreover, it can even reduce its ability to function optimally. Thus, this buildup needs to be stopped from accumulating if you want your water heater to last long.
Here, we have the best tips for you to prevent sediment buildup in your water heater unit:
Flush your water heater regularly
Flushing a water heater refers to draining it every 6 months. This needs to be done to clear and remove all the floating particles sitting at the hot water tank’s bottom. While flushing your water heating unit, disconnect the power to the heating unit or shut off the gas. Once it is done, now it’s time to turn off the cold water supply to your water heating unit so that no additional water enters it as you start to flush it completely. However, if you don’t feel confident enough to drain it yourself, it’s best to rely on professionals of water heater repair in Modesto. Flushing your water heater at least once a year helps extend its lifespan and improve its efficiency.
Maintain Temperature
Heat has a role to play in the buildup of minerals and calcium deposits. If the heat is too high, minerals can start to accumulate more than in normal heat. A temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit causes more buildup to form. This means, higher the temperature, the more buildup of minerals and calcium is going to form. So, if you want to prevent sediment buildup in your water heating unit, never let the temperature get higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Install a Water Softener
Hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium which tend to build up in the water heater tank. So, if you install a water softener, you can remove ions that are responsible for making the water contain hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not only bad for the water heater and pipes, but also your hair, skin, and clothes. So, invest in a water softener to deal with the hard water supply.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar can prevent sediment buildup. Once you have flushed your water heating unit, pour 3 to 4 gallons of cider vinegar into the hot water tank. Allow it to sit there for at least 24 hours.
Make sure when you pour it, the electricity to the water heater is turned off and the drain valve is closed. After the time has over, open the drain valve and allow some water to enter to flush the vinegar out. Dealing with a hot water unit can be complex for a homeowner, you can hire professionals providing water heater service and drain cleaning in Modesto if you don’t know how to remove the sediment yourself.
