System and method for cleaning occluded water pipes in structures

Abstract

A system and method for cleaning mineral build-up from the water pipes of a building. The system is attached to in-flow and out-flow orifices of a building, and two circuits, one including a cleaning solution, and a second including a rinsing solution, are alternatingly circulated through the building's water pipe network.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for cleaning mineral build-up from a building's water conduit network comprising: 
 a first fluid tank;    an in-flow manifold having an in-flow orifice;    a first manifold valve in fluid communication with said first fluid tank near a first end of said fluid tank and with said in-flow manifold, said first manifold valve controlling flow of fluid entering said in-flow manifold through said in-flow orifice between said in-flow manifold and said first fluid tank;    a first outflow orifice situated near a second end of said first fluid tank, said first outflow orifice being in fluid communication with a first outflow valve which controls flow of fluid from said first fluid tank out through said first outflow orifice;    a second fluid tank;    a second manifold valve in fluid communication with said second fluid tank near an end of said second fluid tank and with said in-flow manifold, said second manifold valve controlling flow of fluid entering said in-flow manifold through said in-flow orifice between said in-flow manifold and said second fluid tank;    a second outflow orifice situated near a second end of said second fluid tank, said second outflow orifice being in fluid communication with a second outflow valve which controls flow of fluid from said second fluid tank out through said second outflow orifice;    fluid pump means in fluid communication with said first and said second outflow valves for receiving fluid from said first and/or second fluid tanks; and    outflow conduit means attached to said fluid pump means configured for reversible attachment to a water pipe system inlet of a building for receiving fluid flow from said first and/or said second fluid tanks;    in-flow conduit means in fluid communication with said inflow manifold, and configured for attachment to water outflow means of said building, and when so attached, for receiving effluent fluid into said system from said building, which effluent fluid entered said building through said outflow conduit means.    
     
     
         2 . A method for removing mineral build-up in a building's water pipe network comprising the steps of: 
 selecting an apparatus for cleaning mineral build-up from a building's water conduit network comprising: 
 a first fluid tank;  
 an in-flow manifold having an in-flow orifice;  
 a first manifold valve in fluid communication with said first fluid tank near a first end of said fluid tank and with said in-flow manifold, said first manifold valve controlling flow of fluid entering said in-flow manifold through said inflow orifice between said in-flow manifold and said first fluid tank;  
 a first outflow orifice situated near a second end of said first fluid tank, said first outflow orifice being in fluid communication with a first outflow valve which controls flow of fluid from said first fluid tank out through said first outflow orifice;  
 a second fluid tank;  
 a second manifold valve in fluid communication with said second fluid tank near an end of said second fluid tank and with said in-flow manifold, said second manifold valve controlling flow of fluid entering said in-flow manifold through said in-flow orifice between said in-flow manifold and said second fluid tank;  
 a second outflow orifice situated near a second end of said second fluid tank, said second outflow orifice being in fluid communication with a second outflow valve which controls flow of fluid from said second fluid tank out through said second outflow orifice;  
 fluid pump means in fluid communication with said first and said second outflow valves for receiving fluid from said first and/or second fluid tanks; and  
 outflow conduit means attached to said fluid pump means configured for reversible attachment to a water pipe system inlet of a building for receiving fluid flow from said first and/or said second fluid tanks;  
 in-flow conduit means in fluid communication with said inflow manifold, and configured for attachment to water outflow means of said building, and when so attached, for receiving effluent fluid into said system from said building, which effluent fluid entered said building through said outflow conduit means;  
   placing in said first fluid tank a cleaning solution;    placing in said second fluid tank a rinsing solution;    connecting said outflow conduit means to said water pipe system inlet of said building;    connecting said in-flow conduit means to said water outflow means of said building;    opening said first manifold valve and said first outflow valve;    actuating said pump means;    after circulating said cleaning solution through said building at least one circuit, closing said first manifold valve and said first outflow valve; and opening said second manifold valve and said second outflow valve.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said cleaning solution contains an effective measure of an acid agent for reacting with, and removing mineral constituents of said mineral build-up.