D- scalling boiler

[Pete-B]

 

Hi, I've asked this question before but for the life of me can't find the answer on the forum.

 

I'm going to de-scale the water system in my van tomorrow, I've got 5 litres of white wine vinegar but can't remember how much water to mix with it.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Keithl]

Pete,

 

I don't know the direct answer to your question but here are all the posts mentioning 'White wine vinegar'...

 

http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/search/query.asp?action=search&searchforumid=3&keywords=white+wine+vinegar&author=&days=&Submit=Search

 

Keith.

[Ocsid]

On my Truma Ultrastore I used to dilute 50/50.

 

I would advise that due to this boiler being made of stainless steel that is very prone to crevis corrosion not to leave the vinegar, and definitely any sterilising agent you might be tempted to use, in there for extended periods. By this two > four hours I would think as reasonable, but I saw the effects of leaving sterilizers for a couple of weeks, very extensive damage.

[bobalobs]

We have a Webasto dual top which has an aluminium boiler as I suspect is the case with the diesel Truma which I was told was developed by Eberspacher.

After seven years the drop valve had seized solid with limescale . Fellow Webasto owners had tried descaling with citric acid with disastrous results and we were told to use white wine vinegar. Taking advice and searching the net a 20% mix seemed to be the choice and we left it all night on the hot water setting before flushing it through. A month or so later there was water everywhere and the vinegar had revealed holes we never knew existed!!

I think current advice from Webasto is to exercise the drop valve regularly in the hope to stop it seizing and if it does to use the vinegar and heating for little more than an hour or so.

For non owners the drop valve is designed to empty the tank if temperatures are approaching freezing and to avoid a new boiler at £500+ !!

 

 

[Ocsid]

It is important to know what boiler is involved as the metals used in its construction are fundamental to the issue of what de scalant is suitable.

[Derek Uzzell]

The water reservoir of Truma “Ultrastore” boilers and of Truma combination air/water heating appliances (including diesel-fuelled “Combi D” models) is made of stainless-steel.

 

These 2008 and 2006 forum threads discussed de-scaling Truma appliances

 

http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Hints-and-Tips/Descaling-Truma-water-heater/13476/

 

http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/De-scaling-Truma-Combi-heaters-/4509/?posts=5

 

Truma’s recommendation for the dilution of the de-scaling agent seems to have varied from 1 part of wine-vinegar to 5 parts of water (ie. a 1:5 ratio) to 1 part of wine-vinegar to 1 part of water (ie. a 1:1 ratio).

 

As wine vinegar’s acidity is quite low (no more than 7% by volume) I doubt if using the vinegar ‘neat’ would cause any harm, as the vinegar won’t be in the Truma appliance’s water-reservoir very long and, once the de-scaling procedure is finished, the vinegar should be well flushed out.

 

There’s a fair amount of discussion on-line about de-scaling Truma appliances, but advice on the dilution ratio of the vinegar solution (and the methodology of the procedure) generally seems to be based on opinion rather than ‘official’ guidance.

 

Truma’s FAQ advice for descaling Combi heaters is as follows:

 

"Does the water container of the Truma Combi heater have to be decalcified or sterilised?

For hygienic reasons you should decalcify the water container occasionally. Use special decalcification products from camping specialists or conventional vinegar essence or citric acid, for example. Fill the decalcifying product in the recommended ratio into the appliance via the water system, allow it to work and then rinse the Combi heater thoroughly with fresh water. Do not use the water from the Truma Combi as drinking water.”

 

If I were doing this (and I never have with the Truma air/water heaters fitted to my three motorhomes) I’d probably follow the 2008 Truma advice in the Caravan Club Magazine.

 

1. Make up a solution of 50% water and 50% white wine vinegar.

2. Completely fill the appliance's water-tank with the solution.

3. Heat solution to the maximum water temperature the appliance can attain.

4. Allow solution to cool.

5. Empty solution from water-tank.

6. Rinse water-tank thoroughly by pumping plenty of fresh water through it.

[Pete-B]

 

Many thanks for all the replies and useful guidance, very much appreciated.

 

I also posted this question on the Swift forum and the general consensus is, 2 parts white wine vinegar to 5 litres of water in main tank.. Pump into system, heat water to a low temperature, leave for 4-6 hours then drain and flush.

[Derek Uzzell]

This link is to an old French article that I’ve run through GOOGLE Translate

 

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://f.dichamp.pagesperso-orange.fr/boiler_repb.htm&prev=search

 

It’s suggested that a solution of 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water be used, that a 60°C heat-setting be employed, and that the solution remain in the boiler for 2 to 3 hours, but I’ve read lots of variations on that advice. Basically, the higher the vinegar to water ratio, the more the sollution is heated and the longer the solution remains in the boiler, the more ’scale’ should be removed.

 

Truma(UK) technicians should be able to advise. Contact details In “Service Centres” section here:

 

https://www.truma.com/uk/en/faq/decalcify-truma-combi-heater.html