AquaTru Descaling Guide: How to Remove Mineral Buildup

If you live in a hard water area, mineral scale will build up inside your AquaTru over time — even with RO filtration. Descaling removes this buildup and keeps your system running at full efficiency. Here's exactly how to do it.

Do you need to descale an AquaTru?

It depends on your water hardness. The RO membrane removes the minerals that cause scale, but the tap water tank and internal tubing that feed the membrane can still accumulate buildup — especially if you have very hard water (high TDS going in).

AquaTru recommends descaling every 3–6 months for hard water areas, and every 6–12 months in moderate water areas. If you notice slower flow rates or a white film inside the tap water tank, it's time to descale.

What you need

AquaTru sells an official descaling powder/kit specifically formulated for their systems. You can also use food-grade citric acid, which works the same way. Do not use vinegar — the acidity level isn't consistent enough and the smell can linger.

AquaTru Descaling Kit on Amazon →

How to descale the AquaTru Classic

Turn off and unplug the unit
Remove and set aside the clean water tank
Remove the filters and set them aside (do not descale with filters installed — the descaling solution will damage them)
Mix the descaling solution in the tap water tank according to package directions (typically 1 packet per full tank of water)
Run a full filtration cycle without the filters — this pushes the descaling solution through the internal tubing and membrane housing
Empty the clean water tank (this water is not for drinking)
Refill the tap water tank with clean water and run 2–3 flush cycles to rinse out the descaling solution
Reinstall your filters
Run one more flush cycle before drinking

How to descale the AquaTru Carafe

The Carafe descaling process is the same as the Classic. Remove filters, run the descaling solution through the system, flush thoroughly, and reinstall filters. AquaTru also sells a Carafe-specific descaling kit — use that version if available.

Signs your AquaTru needs descaling

Slower than normal water production
White film or crusty deposits visible inside the tap water tank
Reduced water flow at the dispenser
The unit seems to run longer than usual per cycle

Can I use vinegar instead of the descaling kit?

AquaTru recommends against white vinegar. The acidity isn't standardized, it can leave an odor that's hard to flush out, and it may degrade internal components over time. Citric acid or the official AquaTru descaling kit are better options.