Direct unvented and hard water

[darren bastin]

Hi, I will be fitting an unvented hot water cylinder heated via immersion elements. my concern is that the customer has a borehole supply which is very hard, which will effect the life of the elements. Could anyone recommend a proven product t prevent the problem. Will a whole house inline limefighter be adequate ?

 

[T & H Plumbing]

Won't a good Magnatizer be good enough added to the pipework?

 

[mountainman]

Won't a good Magnatizer be good enough added to the pipework?

I've never been convinced that either the magnetic or RF units work.
I'd use a water softener personally.

 

[T & H Plumbing]

I may be wrong but don't most boilers ask for them to be put on as part of the MI's???

 

[BLOD]

I may be wrong but don't most boilers ask for them to be put on as part of the MI's???

It's not a boiler it's an unvented cylinder.
If it's very hard water than no matter what you fit the cylinder could get scaled, just offer to descale it when necessary.
If you start talking water softeners etc you might just price yourself out of a job.

 

[neily01]

Inline scale inhibitors are ok for boilers because the treated water passes directly through and dosnt sit at all, they have a effect on the scale for between 17-48 hrs. With a hw cyl the water will not be used in time so will need a different method ie watersoftner or phosphate doser

 

[lame plumber]

used a magnet in Pompey, hard and chalkey and my combi never scaled up, neither did the kettle, which prior to the magnet was a furball fm hell

 

[cypher007]

similar situation. I thought the magnet scale fighters and electronic ones were snake oil. do they actually work? or should I as suggested use a phosphate doser?

 

[chris watkins]

similar situation. I thought the magnet scale fighters and electronic ones were snake oil. do they actually work? or should I as suggested use a phosphate doser?

Snake oil, use the phosphate doser or basic exchange softener.

 

[Ray Stafford]

similar situation. I thought the magnet scale fighters and electronic ones were snake oil. do they actually work? or should I as suggested use a phosphate doser?

No, not snake oil. You just have to understand what you are fitting and what you are fitting it to.

A magnetic scale inhibitor directly on the feed to a single appliance will make some difference. It will lengthen the life (for example) of an electric shower, and it will reduce and delay scale deposits. It will not eliminate them.

I have had very good reports of the Hydropath HS34 and HS38 electronic inhibitor, but it does make a difference where you site it.

 

[cypher007]

exchange softener? is that salt based?

 

[chris watkins]

No, not snake oil. You just have to understand what you are fitting and what you are fitting it to.

A magnetic scale inhibitor directly on the feed to a single appliance will make some difference. It will lengthen the life (for example) of an electric shower, and it will reduce and delay scale deposits. It will not eliminate them.

I have had very good reports of the Hydropath HS34 and HS38 electronic inhibitor, but it does make a difference where you site it.

But he was asking about protecting an un-vented cylinder Ray not a electric shower.

 

[chris watkins]

exchange softener? is that salt based?

Yes, these are the only effective way to remove the calcium carbonates (hardness) from the water.

 

[josh]

Yes, these are the only effective way to remove the calcium carbonates (hardness) from the water.

agreed, think there is a lot of rubbish on sale out there in this area.
Arn't magnetic ones only meant to be effective if the water is kept moving?

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

Agree that Base Exchange is the only truly effective way of sorting hard water...
A half decent metered unit isn't going to cost any more than a couple of descales of a cylinder in the big scheme of things....

Worth mentioning to the customer, but not forcing into your quote as an essential work. I would guarantee that others won't put it in so may get priced out.

 

[chris watkins]

The control of scale in domestic cylinders is mainly managed by limiting the temperature to no more than 60 - 65deg C, above this the rate of scale coming out of solution increases greatly.

In my experience it is very rare for the build up to cause problems, as the scale particles break off of the heater elements & fall to the base. So long as the build-up does not stop the circulation of water across the element all will be fine.

Just make sure you check for build-up when replacing any elements.