Maintenance when you have hard water

[Steven Anderson]

We've recently purchased a buy and hold in Texas and the water is very hard. It's 5 years old so I'm sure there's build up. I'd like to try to reduce the effects of zero maintenance during this period and implement an ongoing maintenance program for appliance longevity. Any good suggestions for specific maintenance tasks and intervals to best minimize the damage to appliances? The water softener system seems cost prohibitive at this time. For example I've read about not just draining but flushing the hot water tank every 3-6 months. Anyone use vinegar or other products to keep lines cleansed? Clean the water heater heating element? Run something through the dishwasher? Thank you for your replies and feedback. Steven Berkley Properties