Remove mineral deposits in water heater with chemicals?

[EL]

I have an oil-fired water heater that collects mineral deposits from our hard water. It's driving me nuts - bits of the stuff keep coming off and clogging aerators, shower heads, etc. Also makes a mess when the tub is used. However when I drain the tank almost nothing comes out - seems the deposits are pretty well attached!

I'm wondering if it's possible to use Lime-Away or CLR to remove these deposits, or would this damage the tank? I drained the tank, removed the drain valve, and looked inside - it seems the layer of deposits is pretty thin, 1/8 or maybe 1/4 of an inch.

Eric Law

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Far better and safer to remove or eliminate the deposits before the tank. Look into a softener and if you have solids, an in line filter. Chemicals may remove the deposits, but you may also have residue for a while after. Do you want to wash your hair with Lime Away? If the deposits are truly well attached, the are not the ones you want to catch.

[Art]

I would also be concerned about blowing up the heater when lime away hits the deposits and there is pressure built up from the chemical reaction.

[Slumlord]

There is a product out there that you hook up to the piping. It provides a small electric current that breaks the ionic bonds of the chemical scaling.

For the life of me, I can't remember what it is called... Maybe someone else here knows.

Art wrote:

[Phisherman]