What are the dangers of not cleaning the water heater?

Water heaters are very common things in our lives. Basically every household has one. People who have used a water heater know that if the water heater is used frequently and not cleaned, there will be a lot of scale in the water heater. If the scale in the water heater is not cleaned, it will not only breed a large number of bacteria, but may also cause various skin diseases. If the water heater is not cleaned, it will cause great harm to the human body.

The harm of not cleaning the water heater

First, waste energy and increase energy consumption

It is reported that the thermal conductivity of scale is very poor, only one tenth to several hundredths of that of metals such as copper and iron. If a large amount of scale adheres to the heating rod of the electric water heater, it will greatly affect the heating efficiency. Professional tests have shown that when the thickness of scale is 1.5mm, the electric water heater will consume 6% more electricity; when the thickness of scale is 5mm, it will consume 15% more energy; and when the thickness of scale is 8mm, the increased energy consumption will increase to 34%.

Second, cause skin allergies

Experts say that scale contains a variety of chemical components. Long-term precipitation and accumulation cause the harmful substances in the water to continue to increase, which may cause skin allergies. Sludge, microorganisms, and bacteria also generate a lot of harmful substances during long-term renewal and alternating reactions. It can cause a variety of skin diseases. Some women and children sometimes feel itchy skin and red spots after taking a bath.

Third, shorten the service life

Scale is adsorbed on the heating surface of the water heater, especially inside the pipes, and is difficult to remove. Frequent cleaning is required for descaling, which increases the maintenance costs, not only consuming manpower, material and financial resources, but also the frequent use of mechanical and chemical methods for descaling will damage the heating surface, greatly shortening the service life of the water heater.

For example, when the inner tank is covered with 3 mm thick scale, the temperature of the steel will rise from 280°C to 580°C, and the tensile strength will drop from 40 kgf/mm2 to 10 kgf/mm2, causing the inner tank to overheat, deform, bulge, or even rupture.

Fourth, it disrupts the water cycle

When scale is generated in the water heater, the heat transfer is poor, which reduces the evaporation rate and reduces the pressure of the equipment. If scale forms in the water pipe, the flow cross-sectional area will be reduced, which will increase the flow resistance of the water circulation. In severe cases, the pipe will be completely blocked, disrupting the water circulation and even causing a pipe burst accident.

Fifth, affecting safe operation

In addition, when the heating rod of the water heater is operating normally, it quickly transfers heat to water or other media after being heated, and the temperature difference between the two is very large. When there is scale, the heat from the heating rod is difficult to transfer to the water due to the obstruction of the scale, so the temperature will rise sharply and the intensity will drop significantly.

Therefore, the water heater must be cleaned of scale regularly, otherwise it will not only affect your health, but when thick scale forms on the heating rod, the heat cannot be conducted away, and in severe cases it may cause the water heater to explode.