scale problem

keithboy40

I have had to have my boiler repaired twice in 2 years due to scale build up. What is the best thing to buy to reduce scale. I have been advised to get a combimate. Are they any good.

Canucklehead

Hi

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Cistermiser_Combimate.html

A good way to stop scale, but who will remember to fill it up when it needs it? The only ones I've seen were all empty.

Then there are the magnetic ones. http://www.uk-plumbing.com/aqua-dial-ceramic-magnetic-scale-reducer-15mm-p-41215.html
No maintenance, but possibly not so effective.
I fit magnetic ones on every combi I do.

Corgi Guy.

keithboy40

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

http://www.discountedheating.co.uk/shop/acatalog/Cistermiser_Combimate.html

A good way to stop scale, but who will remember to fill it up when it needs it? The only ones I've seen were all empty.

Then there are the magnetic ones. http://www.uk-plumbing.com/aqua-dial-ceramic-magnetic-scale-reducer-15mm-p-41215.html
No maintenance, but possibly not so effective.
I fit magnetic ones on every combi I do.

Corgi Guy.

Do the magnetic ones actually work

EliteHeat

keithboy40 wrote: »

Do the magnetic ones actually work

No one knows, or at least can provide scientific proof of how they work. Boiler manufacturers will refuse to replace a plate heat exchanger under warranty if one isn't fitted though.

bookduck

keithboy40 wrote: »

Do the magnetic ones actually work

I asked the same question and could not get an answer, then one Sunday I saw a Ideal World ad for ScaleWizard (sale of the day - advertised in multiple time slots). That week I had a job in our works dept and they brought up some other product from the above company, so knew they were viewing that Sunday so asked the question.

The reply was something like that they don't use them and don't have them. They are too small and they use thousands of gallons, but they have much bigger units. The next question was "so they do work?" and got a BIG yes. They put the devices on cold water input, and also use additives for hot.

So I bought one from the above company and after 3 weeks noticed a difference as in the bath was cleaner and the taps had less crud on them. Also under my dripping tap there was a slight reddish (copper?) stain in my basin and the taps dripped a bit more. but less scale on them and it was easier to clean.

Six months later my immersion heater element had a arced through where the wires connect and I had to empty my 20 to 30 year boiler. After looking inside it was VERY clean and I could see the copper walls - no lime scale. There was a slight but thickening covering of scale as the element got closer to the nut and on the nut end where the element comes in and the thermostat fits was a lump of scale size of half a sugar lump but thats it. Except for being dull, it could have been new!

So bought a btl and the flow was not good so bought another from ebay (much cheaper ) This worked too well: the main stopcock started leaking, the shower taps that were welded in limescale connecting nuts had now come loose and I was able to turn them by finger power and there was a good trickle of water coming out of it, the scale on the bathroom taps had gone and now could see the corrosion/cracks on the tap body.

Mate at work had flow problems, gave him my device. He had it for 2 months and said it made no difference to him, but limescale started to appear in my tub again.

I'm having my btl bathroom replaced this coming weekend (all going well). Looking by chance inside the cistern, where they once was a limescale layer on the bottom/walls, it is now black plastic again..

Now the other question that no one asks. Since it does dissolve limescale, what about the calcium in your body and will it start to remove that? Will your teeth go bad easier/quicker? Will your joints start to go wrong? I have started to drink Tescos 18p bottled water.


One thing I would recommend is the magnetic iron particle remover like http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/magnaclean-central-heating-2002-0000

Want you try a diy magnetic limescale removal http://www.matchrockets.com/water/magwatertreat.html
Neodymium magnets are available on ebay[SIZE=+2]
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