The pipework doesn't really influence this.


I was thinking of a electrolytic scale inhibitor which is fitted in
the pipes themselves(do these come under the chocolate teapot heading)

The only completely effective solution to this is to install an ion
exchange water softener. That will provide softened water for as
many outlets as you like. You then normally leave one cold outlet
(kitchen tap typically) as a direct supply from the mains.

This would have to be fitted to the incoming mains ,before it
branches off to the hot water tank and mains fed cold ?

You could arrange for the plumbing just to feed the shower with
softened water, but it seems a bit pointless when you could cover the
entire house.


It not a house its a lareg geogian building whith over 20 bedrooms.
so it would be quite a major operation. The scale is not bad in the
other rooms.

Other side benefits are that detergent and shampoo consumption are
reduced by a third to a half and hair etc. washing is much easier and
better.

Another option that may just about work, at least in reducing the
scale deposits is a phosphate dosing device such as a Combimate.
This would have a positive effect on the shower head not becoming
bunged up, but probably won't leave the shower as deposit free as
softened water.

The so called electronic or magnetic water conditioners are a complete
chocolate teapot for this application and probably most others.

further question?

does the scale come from both the cold and hot water or is one worse
than the other for scale.

There are two forms of hardness in water, temporary and permanent.

Salts related to temporary hardness are deposited out of the water
during heating whiuch is why hot water cylinders become caked with
scale. Permanent hardness is always there.





TIA

.andy

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