Cleaning Boiler Elements.

[Robdog]

I cant get citric acid form anywhere locally as form what the lady in the chemist told me its what the Heroin Addicts use when they do a fix so nowhere by me sells it so ive gone for vinegar again and ive got some liquid CIF which im unsure about as its slightly abrasive.

[edit1now]

Citric acid is about £4/kg from The Home Brew Shop or £2.45/kg from these soapy people (rather high p&p from them).

Otherwise a packet of descaler (the last one I had contained 70g of citric acid) from your supermarket would be £1.30-ish.

[Robdog]

No, they are to remove the sheath and get to the internals. If they are the same as mine as you say, just unscrew the back nut anticlockwise.

Ive tried a few times mate to unscrew them and they wont budge. Im a heavy handed bleeder and i still cant get them to budge so ive just been filling the bucket up to just past the elemtns and adding vinegar which seems to be working.

Im scarded of trying to put more pressure on them as i dont want to break my boiler.

[Andy Dean]

FWIW I clean my elements everytime before use with a sponge and some neat distilled white vinegar, it removes all the scale with ease leaving the elements shiny and as new.

[Ditch]

Doing my head in, this is! My Electrim element's turned up caked in brown stuff. Weird thing is, I never use the thing! I.e., I don't turn it on. I just use the bucket as a FV.

Obviously though, this is " baked on " malt extract. How it 'baked on', I'll never know. But never mind that; Can I f*ck as like get it off!

I tried Washing Soda in an almightily strong solution. Nothing.

Now I've had it soaking, for days, in a Very strong solution of vinegar. Suffice to say, I used to clean heavily rusted old traps in this. It Eats rust (and metal next, if ye don't watch it). But still this shit laughs at me!

Might it be possible that I've added the vinegar to the soda solution ~ can't remember ~ and they've neutralised?

[Stonechat]

Put enough water in to cover the element and add 75g of citric acid. Bring to the boil. Boil for 5 mins. Allow to cool. Your element should be sparkly bright

Worked for me.

[Ditch]

Citric Acid, again, eh? The Ozzies like using that to clean old traps with too. I've seen some of the bare metal results it gives them.

Fair do's. Cheers. I'm lining up a small order of bits and bobs with Shane as it is. I'll stitch on a bag of Citric. It's just a nuisance as it's tying up one of three FV's.

[Invalid Stout]

I cant get citric acid form anywhere locally as form what the lady in the chemist told me its what the Heroin Addicts use when they do a fix so nowhere by me sells it so ive gone for vinegar again and ive got some liquid CIF which im unsure about as its slightly abrasive.

I got citric acid from an Asian grocery.

I have some burnt-on wort on my element. Will citric acid get it off? If not, what will? Can you use caustic on elements?

[gunner]

Hi Chris,how much citric acid do you use per litre of hot water.Is the method just to cover the elements in solution and and leave.How long would you recommend to soak.

Cheers Graham.

[gunner]

Just found the info in the thread,though i did read twice before posting,