Liming
Inside View
Heater Cut Away
Inside Water Heater Views
Calcium Views
Scale Buildup Views

         Most of the water in the world contains some calcium and other minerals. Such calcium buildup can be both a costly and a dangerous problem. Safety features can become covered by buildup that can act as an insulator and cause them to fail.
          This buildup may not only increase the operating cost of your water heater, but it can also shorten its life span.
          A Look Inside a Gas Water Heater
          The flue runs in the center of the tank. Heat causes the sticky calcium to attach itself readily to the flue. Note: The sand settles at the low points in the bottom of the tank. When this sand gets deep enough you may hear a popping and cracking noise. This is caused by the heating element heating the sand as the sand is sitting on top of the inside metal surface of the water tank. This popping and cracking can be thought of as a series of small explosions. These explosions can send small particles of sand upward. Some of this sand will attach itself to the sticky calcium buildup on the flue and other places.
          Now the builldup progresses rapidly. *(We believe higher levels of sand are more likely to be present in underground water sources).
          We believe the different colored calcium buildup, in a gas or electric water heater, is caused by the sand. This sand is mostly dark. The buildup is caused by sand locking onto the sticky calcium, as the sand explodes upward.
          In an electric water heater, the heating element sets above the sand. This buildup is mostly white. It should be noted that over time the sticky calcium, sand, and other minerals can attach to the safety valve. It is possible that so much can collect that the safety valve could not sense the pressure.
          Most safety valves are set for 125 to 150 PSI and 210 degrees for household water heaters. The fuel sensing control probe can also get a small amount of buildup on it. When this occurs, the temperature on the probe is less than the water temperature. Thus the gas stays on longer because it is harder for the water to reach the set temperature. This water heater may stay on for extended periods of time, trying to satisfy the hot water needs. The greater the buildup, the longer the unit must run and the higher the cost of operation.
          A Solution: We can either replace the water heater, pay the extra expense of heating the water, or install the GMX System. In most cases the GMX System will solve the problem and keep the buildup in check. We believe that all water tanks should be drained periodically, (as often as once every six months). It is not necessary to drain all the water out, only 2 to 3 gallons to clear out the sediment in the bottom of the tank.
          NOTE: Use SAFETY when draining a water tank. Shut off the gas, replace the plastic valve with a brass ball valve, have a bucket to catch loose water and usew care when working around the water tank as the water is hot.