I've been lurking for some time on this great site, but I can't find the answer to this particular question:
I checked the condition of my HE zinc. The brass plug is flush - no zinc protrudes at all. Obviously, I need to replace the HE zinc.
Looking at the catalog pic of a new zinc, there should be about 1 inch clearance for the pencil zinc. When I probe the hole with a small screwdriver, I can insert it no more than the depth of the brass plug. On my HE, the opening appears to be blocked by a blackish sediment that appears to be metallic, but I am hesitant to probe deeper for fear of dislodging the material. It "feels" hard like metal, not soft like mud... in short, I cannot physically install a brand new zinc due to this blockage.
PO had done an acid flush last Spring, and installed a closed-loop fresh water system.
I am assuming that the sediment is scale (and other stuff) from the acid flush. (Bad assumption?)
A few questions:
1. What do do about the accumulation at the zinc? Remove the HE and flush? Pick it out with needlenosed pliers? Another acid flush? Ignore it?
2. Could it be something other than scale? Perhaps the zinc broke off? It would seem that the zinc should protrude about 1" from the end of the brass plug....?
3. The dock is shutting off the fresh water supply this week for the Winter, so I will most likely have to remove it and do all this in my garage (yippee). Are there any other proactive maintenance actions I should perform while the HE is removed?
4. The zinc seems rather small - how long should these last in Chesapeake Bay waters?
TIA,
- Jerry
I checked the condition of my HE zinc. The brass plug is flush - no zinc protrudes at all. Obviously, I need to replace the HE zinc.
Looking at the catalog pic of a new zinc, there should be about 1 inch clearance for the pencil zinc. When I probe the hole with a small screwdriver, I can insert it no more than the depth of the brass plug. On my HE, the opening appears to be blocked by a blackish sediment that appears to be metallic, but I am hesitant to probe deeper for fear of dislodging the material. It "feels" hard like metal, not soft like mud... in short, I cannot physically install a brand new zinc due to this blockage.
PO had done an acid flush last Spring, and installed a closed-loop fresh water system.
I am assuming that the sediment is scale (and other stuff) from the acid flush. (Bad assumption?)
A few questions:
1. What do do about the accumulation at the zinc? Remove the HE and flush? Pick it out with needlenosed pliers? Another acid flush? Ignore it?
2. Could it be something other than scale? Perhaps the zinc broke off? It would seem that the zinc should protrude about 1" from the end of the brass plug....?
3. The dock is shutting off the fresh water supply this week for the Winter, so I will most likely have to remove it and do all this in my garage (yippee). Are there any other proactive maintenance actions I should perform while the HE is removed?
4. The zinc seems rather small - how long should these last in Chesapeake Bay waters?
TIA,
- Jerry
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