In many regions, water does not meet the requirements for plumbing equipment - too hard. Over time, calcium salts harden and are deposited on the inner surfaces of the drain tank, this not only spoils its appearance, but also violates the functionality. Deposits also appear on the tightly fitting surfaces of the drain valve - leaks form. In urban conditions, water consumption increases, and in rural areas, the capacity for collecting sewage is overflowed. The consequences in both cases are very unpleasant. Changing the tank with a new one is troublesome and expensive, and using ordinary methods to fix the problem is very difficult. There is a simple and very effective method to remove deposits and completely restore the drain tank to the factory state.
What to prepare
Before you start, you need to buy citric acid packet, an abrasive sponge for washing dishes and soap or any liquid detergent. A container is required to prepare the composition; use rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Cleaning technology
Pour about 3-4 liters of warm water into the container. You can first pour 2–2.5 liters of cold and dilute it hot from the boiler. After dilution, the temperature should be approximately 50-60 degrees Celsius.
Add 150 gr. citric acid and mix thoroughly until completely dissolved.
Pour the mixture into the tank, close it with a lid and leave it for at least three hours.
After this period, remove the cover and drain the water, be sure to turn off the water supply tap. Turn off a clamp of the lever of a drive of the valve, remove it.
Remove the valve and float from the tank. Carefully disassemble, parts and clips are plastic, over time they lose their ductility and become brittle.
Remove sediment from the bottom. You will see that the method worked very effectively, calcium is not only softened, but also turned into fine sand.
Using a soap and water sponge, thoroughly clean all surfaces of the drain tank, remove rust deposits, calcium residues and dirt. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach places: technological grooves, round surfaces, etc. During cleaning, pour water into the tank several times to flush dirt. Remember to clean the fittings well.
Reinstall all the tank parts: first, the drain valve, check the correct position. During operation, do not damage the silicone gasket.
Then lock the valve drive lever, adjust its position. Place the float and attach it with a pin. Turn on the water supply and check the functionality of the elements several times.
Everything is normal - close the tank cap and continue to use the drain system.
Conclusion
Citric acid perfectly corrodes solid deposits and does not adversely affect plastic, rubber and silicone parts. This allows you to use it to clean deposits on all plumbing fixtures. If the contaminants are very old, you will have to increase the exposure time and change the old solution several times with a new one. But the result will always live up to expectations.
