Plate HX maintenance/ planning ahead?

I've been happy as a clam with my Econoburn 150 even though I do not have storage running yet-- but I do intend to move forward on my storage in the near future.

I'll have 1200-1300 gallons of unpressurized storage, with a 5x12 70 plate heat exchanger, and with Caleffi DirtCals on both sides of the HX to capture the crud.

What I'm wondering- and invite input on-- is whether I'd be well-advised in the long run to install the plate HX with unions, or with valves and tees, to allow for eventual flushing if it gradually accumulates mineral build up.

I don't want to make this more complex than needed if I can prudently skip this set of concerns - but also don't want to kick myself later for failing to plan ahead, and having things end up more frustrating than needed if/ when maintenance may be needed for the plate HX.

Thoughts from the hydronically-savvy?

Thanks, as always

Trevor

Thanks guys- Hot Rod, as long as I use softened water in my unpressurized tank, which I hope will not see much evaporation, you think I'll not have any significant efficiency-robbing build-up in the HX over the years?

Those Webstones look like a great solution, but it looks as if I'd be into over $100 for a set of 4; I don't want to cheap out of this is something I am best off having in the long haul, but at this point I need to hemmorage no more $$$ than reasonably needed to bring the tank part of the project on-line.

Thanks

docgogo said:

Caleffi DirtCals could you please tell me where you purchased these i will be installing a 40 plate for dhw soon thanks keith

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I got mine through my local plumbing vendor, Granite Group/ Capital Plumbing (although I had to special order and it was a bit of a wait)- but last I knew, you could find them at Houseneeds.com also. For DHW, you may want to consider Y-strainers with screens. The Dirtcals seem super efficient (much more than a screen) at multi-pass filtering, but I am less clear about the degree to which they'll take out contaminants in a single pass, as you'd have with DHW. For the ultimate, you could [perhaps] put in a screen filter to catch the big chunks, followed by a Dirtcal to settle out the little particles. Perhaps HotRod, who's got more than a little inside insight into the Caleffi line of products, can chime in on whether the Dirtcals are well-suited (or even OK'd) for DHW?