If you've noticed that your water heater is struggling to heat water efficiently or takes an excessive amount of time, it likely means it's time for maintenance, specifically cleaning the heating element. But how do you do it? There are several approaches.
Methods for Cleaning an Electric Water Heater
The first, and most common, method is to call a specialist to your home. They will dismantle the water heater, identify the cause of the fault, and rectify it. This method requires a certain financial investment, but it saves you the hassle – the specialist is responsible for both the heating element and the work performed.
The second option is to do it yourself. This is achievable for any homeowner, provided they have the time and basic tools.
Step-by-Step Cleaning
First, you need to drain the water heater and disconnect the heating element from the electrical supply. To drain the water, connect a hose to the safety valve located on the cold water inlet pipe. Open the valve to allow air into the tank, then open a hot water tap and wait until all the water has drained out.
Once the water heater is empty, remove the heating element. Carefully unscrew the cover at the bottom of the tank and extract the heating element (T.E.N.). Some water will remain in the tank and start to flow out – there's no need to worry about this.
After removing the T.E.N., you will likely see pieces of limescale and dirt, sometimes even sludge. Everything depends on the quality of the water circulating in the water heater.
To clean the heating element, pour warm water into a container, add a couple of packets of citric acid, and submerge the T.E.N. Leave the T.E.N. in the solution for one to two days, changing the water at least twice during this period. After a day or two, the T.E.N. will look almost as good as new.
Don't forget to clean the inside of the water heater as well, removing all remaining limescale. After cleaning, reassemble the water heater, fill it with water, and switch it on. At the same time, replace the magnesium anode – it's an inexpensive part that will extend the tank's lifespan by years.
- Switch off the water heater from the mains and drain the water.
- Remove the heating element and inspect the magnesium anode.
- Soak the T.E.N. in a citric acid solution for 1–2 days.
- Clean the tank interior, replace the gasket and anode.
- Completely fill the tank with water before switching it back on.
When to Call a Plumber
If the water heater is leaking, the safety valve is constantly dripping water, the automation trips, or the tank is corroded, self-cleaning won't resolve the issue. The same applies if the water heater is located at a height or in a confined space where dismantling it alone is dangerous.
ToruFix provides on-site water heater maintenance and cleaning: we drain the tank, clean the heating element, replace the anode and gaskets, check the safety valve and water pressure, and restart the system.