Hot water tank cleaning?

[Captned]

Good day everyone.

My hot water tank isn't getting up to the temp it used to. I plan on changing the element out tommorrow. This one is about two years old.

However, it seems that the water pressure on the in hose side is really making the hose bulge and when I turn on my hot water, it seems that it has lost some pressure. (that same hose blew open 6 months ago and ruined my inverter.)

Could the inside of the heater be clogged with crap? Any prefered method of cleaning it out?

Thanks in advance...

Captned
78 46C
Miami Beach

 

[Trojan]

It sure could be. If there is a drain, turn off the unit and drain it. Use a hose and drain it in a bucket. Not in the bilge. Hot water tanks build up deposits of lime on the inside and it piles up on the bottom. Sometimes it will be so full it will cover the heating unit. Some times it's easier to remove the heating unit and clean it out from there. Heating units don't get old and loose the heating. They either work or don't work. Like a light bulb. The temperature control now that's another thing. They can get old and tired. They are attached to the top side of the tank. If you have bulging hoses, you are using the wrong type of hose or you have to much pressure on the system.


BILL

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I was just discussing this today. Mine is DEAD. Its also mounted horizontal, no way to drain it and it has to come out to change the element.Its also under the galley sole. I think next week when I change the element, Ill put a new tank around it also !! Plus another new unit in the back. I cant see pumping hot water 50 feet. The gas boat has a 12 gallon 110volt heater and RARELY runs out. It runs about 5 amps when cold. Also, it was a $50 throw away unit in 1986. Maybe Ill buy the $ 400 stainless unit from WM just to be on the safe side--
FAT CHANCE ws

 

[REBrueckner]

While it's usually true that elements either die or heat, they can become coated with deposits, especially when water is hard...this slows heating...

I have to change my heating elements about every two years anyway... they corrode and start leaking about that timeframe...so that's a likely place to begin...after the change, and a few cycles of heating and cooling, snug up the mounting bolts if yours uses a gasket...I find if I don't snug up a second time the heating element tends to ooze.

 

[REBrueckner]

I should have also mentioned that heating takes longer in winter, with cold water, than in summer, with warm water. If water is, say 40 degrees in winter and perhaps 75 in summer, you need nearly double the heating time in winter to get the water to the same temperature of about 120 degrees.

 

[Captned]

Thanks guys, it was the element. Tank was a lot cleaner than I thought. The pressure problem appears to be that the marina water pressure is up.

Have a great day.

Captned

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I had an external fitting leaking when we bought our boat. This rusted the outside badly. I took the tank covers off and discovered that the actual tank is an aluminum barrel. It lays horizontal and the drain is not at the bottom. The element is the lowest thing. I removed everything from the barrel and discovered that the bottom third was full of a gray muddy substance that I believe was aluminum oxide. This crud completely covered the element and seriously reduced its ability to heat water. I replaced the assembly with a new one of exactly the same type. Mine is an Atwood with a square tin cover. I will keep a closer eye on this one, but draining sure won't get to that area of the tank. The bottom line is that you have hit the nail on the head. That, most likely, is your problem. To clean it, remove the whole tank, take ashore, remove the element, empty and flush out the junk.