How to clean the water side of a plate heat exchanger?

I do not use a plate heat exchanger so I have nothing specific to add in that regard.

I do use Lime-A-Way cleaner to remove water mineral deposits for household cleaning. Maybe that would work for a plate heat exchanger?

Cheers!

 

Just listened to a lecture from John Blichmann who gave detailed instructions of cleaning the hot side of a plate chiller . . . he didn't address the water supply side. My PC is 7'ish years old, never been cleaned, and efficiency seems to be the same. FWIW, my water is on the soft side. If I was inclined to tackle the supply side it would probably be with CLR (in the Limeaway family). Fairly positive that would do nothing to harm the stainless steel.

 

I haven't done it myself, but if you happen to already have BLC for your draft lines/faucets, I would think it would be worth a try. It's certainly not going to hurt stainless steel and is designed for loosening mineral deposits.

 

Although you suspect the water side, would it be worthwhile to check the flow rate against the manufacturer’s specs? I doubt a flow rate would be specified for water, but a slow flow through either side will suggest where to start troubleshooting.

This guy was probably less meticulous than you, but he was amazed at how much gunk came out after a thorough baking at 500°F for 90 minutes and several flushes. Meat of the video starts @ ~ 2 minutes.

 

I had a counterflow chiller scale up on the water side, as the tap water is very high in bicarbonate. Use the acid of your choice. I think I used CLR, then did a long recirculation with vinegar.

Edit - coffee makers don't last long in our town without a periodic vinegar cleaning. I'm on my 4th water heater in 20 years, and that is with a water softener.

 

Dang, I'm now considering myself fortunate....on my second water heater in 37 years, and I suspect the original one was in the house when when it was built in the mid-late 70's.

 

https://www.hydrosolution.com/en/gu...de-what-is-it-and-when-should-you-replace-it/

 

I will give it an inspection, once I return home.