Replies

1. 
   Brian_(Tankless)_Wood | Apr 25, 1999 07:55am | #1

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   Hi David: I installed three magnet sets. Two on the cold line into the house & one right after the water heater. After three months, my water heater, faucets, toilets, dishwasher & shower- heads are all completely free of scale. Un-promised bonuses I got: I use less detergents & hair conditioner, and my coffee doesn't have that bitter taste. E-mail me if you want more info.
   [email protected] Hope this helps, Brian.

2. 
   Guest_ | Apr 25, 1999 08:17am | #2

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   I run vinegar through my dishwasher every couple of weeks or so. The thing finally died after much heavy use for 16 years (rusted out bottom), but I never had a calcium buildup. I do this with my coffee maker, too.

   Patty

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 25, 1999 01:55pm | #3

   *Commercial dishwashers run Phosphoric acid through to de-scale. Check the side of a coke can to see its ingredients.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 25, 1999 10:00pm | #4

   *David: To confirm that it is calcium, take some scrappings in a spoon and add some vinegar. If it is calcium, it will bubble and fizz as it reacts with the vinegar. I've used a couple of gallons of vinegar (1 gallon jugs from Costco) to clean up various pieces of equipment. If there's a way to run the vinegar through as if it were water (siphon into the inlet line from the top of the roof? sump pump into the dishwasher?), it would go through all the right passages, be heated by the dishwasher, and work really fast because of the high temperature.You could continue to do this in the future, or install a real water softener. Not trying to sell you anything (especially not magnets to remove non-magnetic compounds),David

3. 
   Sandy_Coyman | Apr 26, 1999 03:06pm | #5

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   Don't know if this will help with calcium, but it makes the dishwasher look like new. Put Tang orange drink mix in detergent dispenser and run it through. Dishwasher looks like new.

4. 
   Guest_ | Apr 27, 1999 02:28am | #6

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   Ah, someone else who knows the Tang secret!

   Works for iron stains too.

1. 
   Guest_ | Apr 28, 1999 07:24pm | #7

   *Dishwasher detergents are very water sensitive. Specific brands that may work great in one place won't work well in another. It is possible that this is not calcium but residue from the brand of detergent you use.

5. 
   JohnE | May 01, 1999 10:47am | #8

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   David;

   Confirm it is calcium a David (Thomas) suggests. If the vinegar doesn't dissolve the residue you may have a bad dip tube.

   Check out this article from the Seattle Times on faulty dip tubes in certain water heaters

   Water Heater makers in Hot Water

   Cheers;
   JE

6. 
   David_Evans | May 01, 1999 10:47am | #9

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   I looked in the dishwasher today for the first time since I installed it several years ago, and found its filter unit clogged solid with calcium.

   Are there any bright ideas out there for removing this buildup?