Water heater descaling

Tips on how to do it and how often...

A caravan's water system can sometimes develop a build up of lime scale - especially if you regularly caravan in hard water areas. As always, a helpful forumite is on hand to offer some advice.

You can discuss water heater descaling on the Caravan Talk forum or if you wish to contribute to this article or provide feedback please email us.

RogerL: How often this needs doing is obviously variable - it depends how much you use hot water as well as how often you caravan in hard water areas.

It's probably best done immediately after sterilising and draining the water system. Ensure that any filter elements are removed.

Pop down to your local supermarket and get 5 litres of vinegar. It seems to be cheaper as 9x 564ml (1pint) bottles than a 5 litre container. Pour the vinegar into you external water container. Dilute the vinegar 50% by adding 5 litres of water.

Refill the caravan water system, eliminating all air from the pipes.

Turn on the water heater (at full temperature 70 degrees if gas). Leave for several hours.

Turn off the water heater and drain the system down. Re-fill the system with fresh water and drain down again to rinse out the vinegar.

Job done, just 9x 16p = £1.44, using only food grade materials.

I've never seen a caravan service schedule, not even from an Approved Caravan Workshop, which includes this but it does need doing! I do mine annually.

You can discuss water heater descaling on the Caravan Talk forum or if you wish to contribute to this article or provide feedback please email us.