Descaling humidifier using lemon? Tips please!

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:37 pm

Hubby loves sardines--I do not!
But when he opens a can, I will have ONE--just so I can stand his breath.

Now, THAT'S love. <3

Hello again Kipster,

You say:

"So, if anyone can help me with my original question, that would be great - do I use juice, juice and water, do I rub the actual lemon flesh on the limescale? If I use liquid (juice or juice and water) is it best to use it hot or cold?

"I've found tips for using lemon to descale kettles etc but that involves boiling the kettle so I'm not sure how that method translates to this. I'm thinking maybe hot water and lemon juice then pour it into the humidifier to soak for half an hour then rinse it all out?"

I haven't used citric acid myself, but I found this UK-based company, Dri-Pak, on the internet:

http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/cleaning-products/citric-acid/

They're in Derbyshire, and in addition to Citric Acid powder, they also offer Bicarbonate of Soda and Borax substitute.

They say their range is available from Wilko stores and also from Robert Dyas stores. And they have a map.

As regards use, I agree that the method which works with kettles (boiling) isn't to be used with your ResMed tank. We don't know what temperature that is 'rated' for, but it probably isn't 100 deg C.

Why not do a little scientific experiment? If we say 'limescale breakdown is a product of temperature times time' and start from the position that 'one kettle-clean is 100 deg C for 10 minutes', then we might postulate that 'a soak in 40 deg C solution will need 25 minutes to have the same effect'. (We are assuming that 40 deg C - or handwash temperature - is ok for the Resmed tank.)

And if the heat-effect curve of dissolution is not linear - and I suspect it isn't - then you might experiment with longer time periods of soak.

Say, starting with a 40 deg C solution and leaving it for one hour (even though it will gradually get cold). Or for two hours. Or even - as Dri-Pak's website says may be necessary when descaling toilet bowls - a time period longer than that.

Obviously, you wouldn't want the soak to be 'overnight' - you are using the tank overnight. But you could start the soak shortly after breakfast, and give it a good 12 hours.

If it works, you can tell all of us how it goes. This forum learning thing can go both ways, y'know.

On a very quick look I found this on line UK beer/wine making supply store that offers citric acid. You might want to try half a kilo to see how it works for you.

Citric Acid

I descaled with bottled lemon juice when caring for my late brother about once a month because the buildup was pretty significant. I used about 60 mL of lemon juice and the same of water and let it soak on the bottom. I usually let it sit half an hour just because I was doing other things at the time, but that seemed to be enough. Since most buildup is on the bottom only, I didn't really worry about the sides at all, but you could always set it in a towel and angle it each of the 4 ways. It's not going to hurt anything. While it's mostly unsightly, I know scale buildup affected heaters in aquariums, so figured it might affect the amount of actual heat getting to the water for humidity. At home here, I can get cheap distilled water only a couple of blocks away, so don't need to descale.

The UK aquarium hobbyists have trouble with the scale as well - most have opted for reverse osmosis units when they have soft water fish, but I'm not sure you could justify the cost if you only needed it for your cpap unit.

To Kipster,

I'm sure the stuff from the home brew people in Salisbury is as good as any, but they are "predominantly mail order". That is, if you happen to be in the area, you can pick some up. Otherwise, you rely on Royal Mail.

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

And you can take it with you, to use the same day.

I have always used lemon for cleaning my tea pots. Not very British I suppose, but I like 'em clean. Don't know if would work the same on mineral deposits ...... but after a good wash, I usually cut the lemon in half, sqeeze out the juice into the teapot and let it soak. After a while, i scrub with the lemon skin and pulp. You don't need a lot, its only the bottom and the sides that need cleaning.

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm

To Kipster,

I'm sure the stuff from the home brew people in Salisbury is as good as any, but they are "predominantly mail order". That is, if you happen to be in the area, you can pick some up. Otherwise, you rely on Royal Mail.

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

And you can take it with you, to use the same day.

So, like *ALL* of Ron's "advice", it may possibly not be wrong, but it has to be carefully examined by someone who knows what they're doing, so it doesn't cost you 30% more...

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:41 pm

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm

To Kipster,

I'm sure the stuff from the home brew people in Salisbury is as good as any, but they are "predominantly mail order". That is, if you happen to be in the area, you can pick some up. Otherwise, you rely on Royal Mail.

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

And you can take it with you, to use the same day.

So, like *ALL* of Ron's "advice", it may possibly not be wrong, but it has to be carefully examined by someone who knows what they're doing, so it doesn't cost you 30% more...

I think you might mean all of Rick's advice... no?

Lucyhere wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:57 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:41 pm

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm

To Kipster,

I'm sure the stuff from the home brew people in Salisbury is as good as any, but they are "predominantly mail order". That is, if you happen to be in the area, you can pick some up. Otherwise, you rely on Royal Mail.

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

And you can take it with you, to use the same day.

So, like *ALL* of Ron's "advice", it may possibly not be wrong, but it has to be carefully examined by someone who knows what they're doing, so it doesn't cost you 30% more...

I think you might mean all of Rick's advice... no?

Well, one of us is confused.

Rick said:

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:41 am

I haven't used citric acid myself, but I found this UK-based company, Dri-Pak, on the internet:

http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/cleaning-products/citric-acid/

They're in Derbyshire, and in addition to Citric Acid powder, they also offer Bicarbonate of Soda and Borax substitute.

Ron popped in with:

Ron AKA wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 10:08 am

On a very quick look I found this on line UK beer/wine making supply store that offers citric acid. You might want to try half a kilo to see how it works for you.

Then Rick said:

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

Which, says to me, that Rick's advice would save 30% over Ron's "advice".

Did I miss something?

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:21 pm

Did I miss something?

No! I did. Sorry for not reading more thoroughly.

Even though Fruit fresh is citric acid, I concede that it is way more spendy than several other sources.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:14 pm

Even though Fruit fresh is citric acid, I concede that it is way more spendy than several other sources.

A small charge of C-4 will shake that lime scale right off, if you can find the tank. Jim

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:32 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:14 pm

Even though Fruit fresh is citric acid, I concede that it is way more spendy than several other sources.

A small charge of C-4 will shake that lime scale right off, if you can find the tank. Jim

Just use a little detcord.

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:02 pm

Goofproof wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:32 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:14 pm

Even though Fruit fresh is citric acid, I concede that it is way more spendy than several other sources.

A small charge of C-4 will shake that lime scale right off, if you can find the tank. Jim

Just use a little detcord.

The Bigger the Boom, the more the Fun. I used to load and charge 36 holes a shift, drilled in rock with 1,200 lb of ANFO per hole a night, when we got 144 holes loaded I'd wire them and set then off, from 1,000 feet away. Gave new meaning to felt the earth move. Jim

rick blaine wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm

To Kipster,

I'm sure the stuff from the home brew people in Salisbury is as good as any, but they are "predominantly mail order". That is, if you happen to be in the area, you can pick some up. Otherwise, you rely on Royal Mail.

The citric acid produced by Dri-Pak and sold in Wilko stores (under their brand name) is cheaper - by 30 per cent.

And you can take it with you, to use the same day.

I agree and should have mentioned that. If you can find any kind of store close it almost always will be cheaper due the mailing costs. If you live in a rural area then it may become cheaper than driving a long way.