Homeowner Forum / Construction / November 2005

caliche?    Like a layer of hard soil below the surface.  Not what I think
you mean.

If you are talking about a thick layer of white stuff (presumably calcium
and other salts that are found in hard water) then a water softner would
eliminate the problem.

However I am still confused because hard water deposits should not develop
unless the water is allowed to evaporate.  It usually does not build up on a
continuously submerged surface.  Does your tank run itself dry for some
reason?  Perhaps the heater is too hot and it boils the water near its
surface allowing the deposits to form.

A sacrificial anode is to prevent rust (a chemical reaction) what you
describe is likely not the result of a chemical reaction but rather a
physical one (evaporation).  No sacrificial anything will prevent it.  Do
you have hard water deposits on your faucets and other fixtures?  If not,
the crud might not be what you think it is.

A better question might be "what brand water heater resists hard water
deposits the best?"

I suppose you could fill the tank with Vinegar once a month (not really
equitable).  Flushing the tank with any kind or acid or cleaner is not
advised because I doubt you could satisfactorally clean it all out.

Only real option is to flush the stuff out on a regular basis before it
forms a solid mass.

2 solutions,
 1. Drain regularly from the bottom hose bib. Shut off the power and inlet
water 1st. When the water inlet is on, the tank will fill & stir up the
sediment on the bottom which prevents the wh from draining the solids
completly. You'll have to crack the popoff valve open after a couple minutes
of draining to allow air into the tank. You only need to do the above the
1st time you drain the wh. After that, you can use the hose bib and just
drain the water and leave the inlet water on as well as the power. (As long
as the discharge pressure is equal or less then the inlet pressure, the tank
will continue to fill and you won't burn up an element.) It usually takes
about 3 minutes to drain the solids in a 50 gal wh.after the 1st time.

 2. Pre-treat the water in some fashion.

Dan --been there-done that

If truly caliche, probably a siphon leak in the buried supply pipe may be
the source.  Or maybe a dirty well.  The source determines the fix.