Did you know that when water comes from areas high in calcium or magnesium carbonate, hard water leaves mineral deposits commonly known as “lime scale” on your plumbing components? This blocks your pipes and causes components to fail, leading to an expensive plumbing issue to deal with. This is a common problem here in southern California, where there are very high levels of hard water. Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid this issue! This blog will go over how to prevent scale build-up on your water heater.
What is Scale?
Scale is the build-up of minerals and other deposits in the water supply that goes through your plumbery. It happens when minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, are in a pressurized or heated area. Because it contains tiny metal particles, it can corrode your pipes and cause severe damage.
Why is Scale Build Up Bad?
You certainly want to prevent the build-up of scale at all costs. Scale build-up can cause the blockage of pipes and faucet aerators, and ultimately cause the plumbing system to fail. It’s unsightly and leaves white deposits on clothes and dishes. It’s a constant nuisance for all end-users.
Why Is Scale Bad for a Water Heater?
More significantly, scale build-up on water heaters reduces its overall efficiency and drives your energy bills way up! It’ll make your water heater work less efficiently and significantly reduce its lifespan. When scale builds up, your pipes become narrower, reducing the amount of water that could flow. As a result, your pipes become less efficient, and homeowners end up spending on pipes that don’t carry as much water as they should. Homes with severe scale build-up problems are spending huge amounts on water and maintenance costs!
Other reasons why scale is bad for water heaters include:
- It restricts flow
- It slows down the transfer of heat
- Decreases efficiency
- Damages heating elements
- Decreases water pressure
- Shortens life span
- Requires frequent and costly maintenance
Without repairs and other solutions, your plumbing system and the equipment connected to it may take on several types of damage!
Flush Your Water Heating Element
If your water heater has accumulated scale, flushing your heating elements can help you remove all of the mineral particles floating around in the tank. This is done by turning off the electricity/gas connected to your water heating element and shutting down the cold water supply. To make the water drain quickly, turn on a sink or even a bath close to where your water heater is. Check the bottom for the tank draining valve, connect a hose to it, and let it drain. The water that initially comes out might be very hot, so safety precautions must be taken. It is recommended to leave this task to a professional. Atlas HVAC Inc can assist you in properly flushing your water heater correctly.
How Do You Prevent Scale Build Up On Your Water Heater?
If you want to prevent scale from building up on your water heater for good, it’s a smart idea to install ScaleRX. ScaleRX is a water heater scale prevention system that prevents the build-up of scale on all water heater elements. ScaleRX is suited for both traditional tank and tankless water heaters in areas with moderate to severe hard water like here in southern California! The benefits of ScaleRx is that it:
- Works with any type of water heater.
- Eliminates the need to de-scale tankless heaters.
- Doesn’t restrict household water pressure
- Connects directly to copper, CPVC, or PVC pipe.
- Adapts easily for PEX and other pipe types.
- Environmentally friendly and chemical-free.
- No electricity required
- Easy-to-install and maintenance-free
If you want to permanently halt the build-up of scale on your water heater, Atlas HVAC Inc can install a water heater scale prevention system for you!
Let Atlas HVAC Inc Help!
Scale build-up is no fun. It causes your water heater to work less efficiently and can eventually lead to the failure of your plumbing system. That’s why it’s best to let a group of experts handle the issue and prevent it from occurring again! We hope this blog helped you see how to prevent scale build-up on your water heater! If you would like our expert team to help you with your scale build-up problems, give us a call at (877) 452-8527 or click here to get in contact!
