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[ms1780]

I have noticed that my plate exchanger is not nearly as efficient this year as it was last year.  I run a solution I purchase from the manufacturer in my OWB to prevent build up so I am sure that my problem is on the DW side.  I have unhooked that for the time being and would like to run a muratic acid solution through it with one of those drill pumps then flush it really good and hook it back up this fall.  I figure since its already unhooked on the DW side there is no sense in running water through it all summer.

Anyway, my question is on the strength of the muratic acid.  I am thinking maybe 1 gallon of acid to 4 gallons of water.  What have you all used in the past that seemed to clean up the calcium and lime build up well but wasn't too strong.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[agriffinjd]

You'd be flushing acid through the part that your drinking water flows through?  Is that safe?

[mlappin]

Before muriatic I’d try regular ole white vinegar.

I use a puddle pump with a garden hose adapter in a five gallon bucket.

If the white vinegar don’t clean it up, commercial cleaners are available for heat exchangers.

[Roger2561]

I too use vinegar.  It's safer than muriatic acid.  I have a small pump connected to my drill motor, pour about 3 to 4 gallons in a bucket and let it circulate for about 20 minutes.  You'll be surprised what will come out of the thing.  I also have the vinegar flush the Hx in the opposite direction of the water flow.  I seem to have good luck doing it this way.  I hope this helps.  Roger     

[ms1780]

I will try the white vinegar.  Do you put a filter of some kind on the intake of the pump to prevent pulling the junk back into the exchanger?

[dukethebeagle]

4-1 muiatic to water is strong.i use that stuff to clean my boat and i put like an 8 ounce cup in one gallon of water
and it strips the mineral of the boat without any problem

[Roger2561]

I have never used a filter while running the vinegar.  When I'm done running the vinegar, I flush it out good clean hot water for about the same amount of time as running the vinegar.  It works well for me.  Roger 

[mlappin]

I have never used a filter while running the vinegar.  When I'm done running the vinegar, I flush it out good clean hot water for about the same amount of time as running the vinegar.  It works well for me.  Roger

You could though if you wanted, just take a piece of window screen and place it over the discharge hose pumping your junk back into the bucket, will keep any big chunks from being pumped back in.

I haven’t found it necessary though, but I’m running soft water and clean yearly.

[BIG AL]

I haven't tried it myself but I have heard that any of the radiator flushes on the market will do a good job , may not want to use on dw though. I would flush out anything I used well anyway with a couple runs of fresh water.