How to Clean and Descale a Hot Water Dispenser

A hot water dispenser is must to have appliance in your kitchen. The machine is of great convenience to you, and it’s affordable. With a dispenser, you don’t need to use your stove while boiling water to make tea. You can use this appliance whether in your office or at home.

If you own this hot water dispenser, you need to maintain it for better performance. Your dispenser requires regular cleaning and descaling. Since the appliance gets into contact with hard water, it starts forming limescale. These calcium deposits affect your dispenser’s functioning and may even damage the heating element.

That’s why it’s necessary you learn how to clean and descale your dispenser, as explained below.

Cleaning Water Dispenser

It’s best to clean your water dispenser regularly, both on interior and exterior surfaces. To clean, you can choose readily available products like dish soap, vinegar, or commercial products.

Items Required

Dish soap
Vinegar
Cleaning cloth
Towel
Baking soda (optional)

Cleaning the Exterior Surface

When cleaning your dispenser, first unplug the machine from power.
Prepare the soapy cleaning solution. Dip the cleaning cloth in the mixture and wring it out.
Wipe the dispenser outside surface with the damp cloth. Rub it gently to clear any stains with focus on the water spout. Keep dipping the fabric into the solution and rubbing the surface until the appliance is clean.
Rinse off the cloth or get a clean one to wipe off the soap left on the surface.
When you finish rinsing, use a towel to dry the appliance. If having stainless steel, apply a small amount of steel polish to rub the surface to make it shine.
Remember to clean the drip tray. Use a rug with soap and water and wipe down the tray.

Cleaning a Hot Water Dispenser Reservoir

Remember, before you start cleaning the reservoir, disconnect it from power. Then, again, remove the bottle and set it aside.

If the machine has water, drain it. You can use the spigots or remove the cap to drain at the rear.
Remove the reservoir for easy cleaning. You may still consider getting rid of other items like filters or collars. Pour some soapy water into the tank and use a cloth to clean it. Clean the reservoir under the sink and focus on the corners.
Rinse off the reservoir and wipe it dry. Then, return the tank to the dispenser.

Descaling a Hot Water Heater

Descaling is necessary for your appliance efficiency. Removing the calcium deposits prevents the machine element from consuming more electricity. In addition, you can use several products to clean the limescale, like vinegar, citric acid, or descaler cleaners like you would use on a coffee maker.

The following technique guides you on how to clean a hot water dispenser with vinegar ;

Make a vinegar solution in the hot water pot in the ratio of 1:1 water and white vinegar. For citric acid, use 25 grams of it in 500ml water.
Connect the machine to power and let the solution boil or press the descaling button.
After boiling the solution, allow it to sit overnight. Later empty the pot, check if there is limescale left.
You can consider cleaning the remaining limescale with baking soda and rag or repeat the procedure above until the tank is clean.
Later finally, rinse the hot water pot. Put clean water and boil it. Discard the water as it runs through the unit to clear all vinegar residues.
It’s best if you descale your dispenser every three months.

Descaling using Commercial Products

There are several products for descaling in the form of liquids, powder, or tablets. Purchase your favorite product (or our favorite) to descale your machine.

Fill your dispenser with water and bring it to a boil.
Draw a cup of hot water and add the descaling product to it.
Add the cup of water mixture into the dispenser. Press the start button and let the water dispense.
Keep doing this procedure several times until the machine is clean.
Later you should rinse the appliance to clear the remains of the product. Put clean water in the reservoir and press the start button. Repeat the process several times for thoroughly rinsing.

How Do You Remove Calcium Deposits from a Hot Water Dispenser?

As earlier mentioned, there are two ways of removing calcium deposits: vinegar and the other descaler products. If you don’t have vinegar, you can still consider using citric acid as follows;

Fill the dispenser with water to the maximum level and boil it
Draw some amount of water and mix with the citric acid and stir the mixture well.
Pour the mixture into the dispenser and allow it to settle for a few hours.
After some hours, press the start button, and water will start to pour as you discard it.
Later rinse the tank thoroughly to clear any residue. Finally, fill the dispenser with clean water and dispense it until the tank is free of residues.

Should Water Dispenser Be Cleaned?

The water dispenser requires regular cleaning, just like any other kitchen appliance. When you clean the device, you prevent the build of dirt and germs. Cleaning protects your family from infections and also ensures you consume fresh water always. Follow the above-laid procedure on how to clean your dispenser.

How Often Should I Clean My Water Dispenser?

For a good cleansing routine, it’s best to clean the dispenser every once a month. But there are other cleaning techniques you can apply before the planned deep cleaning time. For example, you can wipe out the visible dirt on the unit using the food-safe wipes daily. Focus on the areas that are highly touched and the tap. However, if you notice dirt build up inside the dispenser before one month is over, there is no harm in cleaning.

Check this too: How To Make Keurig Hot Chocolate Taste Better

Can You Get Sick from a Water Heater?

Water heaters are of great help at homes and allow you to heat bathing, cleaning, and washing water. These heaters mostly use tanks that store hot water until when needed. With the storage of water in large volumes and for a longer time, some problems may arise. Therefore, it becomes unsafe to consume this water due to the following reasons;

Excess sediment buildup

You may drink this water if the sediments are less. But with time, minerals build up as more water enters and leaves the tank. The deposits may also destroy the heating element and burn it away. Therefore, it’s best to flush your tank regularly to clear away these particles.

Smelly or discolored water

If you fail to clean your tank, more dirt will accumulate, and bacteria start to grow. Bacteria can be risky to your health if you consume this water. These microorganisms also cause unpleasant smells due to the gases released when they die. Thus, always clean your water tank if you need to consume this water.

Water is too cold or extremely hot

Due to the thermostat settings, the water from the tank may have extreme temperatures. Too hot water can cause burns and again leads to high bills. On the other hand, sometimes this water may be too cold, especially if there is an issue with the heating element. So, always keep checking your water heater’s temperature.

For convenient and safe water heaters, consider the following;

These heaters are portable and easy to maintain. You can easily follow a cleaning routine to keep your hygiene in check.

Conclusion

You must know how to clean your water dispenser for a healthy lifestyle. Again, cleaning will enhance your dispenser lifespan. The cleaning method is easy to follow, and you can use either home products or commercials. Your wellbeing depends on how clean you keep your dispenser.