It is easier to drain a gallon or two from the tank every month. It help save on energy, and usually gives a longer tank life. RJ ----- Original Message ----- From: clifford To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:51 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] cleaning out a hotwater tank
Dear List Members: When our electric water-heater accumulated quite a lot of mineral deposits, it became clear to me that simply draining the tank with a water hose was not going to work satisfactorily. I drained the water from the tank and then removed the bottom electrical element, which left a hole large enough to insert a three quarter inch pipe. I bent a piece of copper tubing, which was three quarter in diameter, and then connected the end to my shop vac. I then turned the water back on to fill the tank to a depth of eight inches or so worked the coppertube in to the bottom of the tank, , and then turned on the vacuum until I had filled the vacuum cleaner tank. I repeated this procedure until I had cleaned out the tank, which took quite a lot of effort, as the sediment was roughly a foot deep in the bottom of the tank. I then replaced the electrical element and refilled the tank before turning on the power. Anyone working on an electric tank should make sure that the power is turned off before attempting to work on it , or serious shock could result. Yours Truly, Clifford Wilson [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]