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| UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Scale inhibitors
Have just purchased a shower thermostatic mixer from Screwfix.
Instructions mention the need for a scale inhibitor if temporary hardness more than 200 ppm. Local water has hardness of nore than 400 ppm! Triton scale inhibitor costs £50 + £25 for replacement cartridges. I already have a magnetic device fitted (? Ecoflow). Ebay has two on offer - a Calmag scale inhibitor that requires regular cartridge replacement, and a Salamander Sesi electrolytic scale inhibitor. My question is - do these things work? Are they worth fitting? Are they a con? All comments gratefully received. Keith |
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#2
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Scale inhibitors
On 2008-07-31 09:32:15 +0100, Keefiedee said:
Have just purchased a shower thermostatic mixer from Screwfix. Instructions mention the need for a scale inhibitor if temporary hardness more than 200 ppm. Local water has hardness of nore than 400 ppm! Triton scale inhibitor costs £50 + £25 for replacement cartridges. I already have a magnetic device fitted (? Ecoflow). Ebay has two on offer - a Calmag scale inhibitor that requires regular cartridge replacement, and a Salamander Sesi electrolytic scale inhibitor. My question is - do these things work? No. Are they worth fitting? Yes. Are they a con? Yes. All comments gratefully received. Keith The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate or a proper ion exchange water softener that uses salt. A phosphate doser will prevent deposition of limescale but does not soften the water. A proper water softener will do both. The overall cost is a few hundred pounds (less than £500 normally) for the machine and you can reckon on a 20 year lifetime. The running cost in salt is fairly effectively balanced by a reduction in the amount of washing detergents and shampoos that are used since they become more effective. Therefore the avoidance of scale is a bonus on top of that. |
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#3
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Scale inhibitors
On Jul 31, 10:41*am, Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-07-31 09:32:15 +0100, Keefiedee said: Have just purchased a shower thermostatic mixer from Screwfix. Instructions mention the need for a scale inhibitor if temporary hardness more than 200 ppm. *Local water has hardness of nore than 400 ppm! Triton scale inhibitor costs £50 + £25 for replacement cartridges. *I already have a magnetic device fitted (? Ecoflow). *Ebay has two on offer - a Calmag scale inhibitor that requires regular cartridge replacement, and a Salamander Sesi electrolytic scale inhibitor. My question is - do these things work? No. *Are they worth fitting? Yes. * Are they a con? Yes. All comments gratefully received. Keith The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate or a proper ion exchange water softener that uses salt. A phosphate doser will prevent deposition of limescale but does not soften the water. A proper water softener will do both. * * *The overall cost is a few hundred pounds (less than £500 normally) for the machine and you can reckon on a 20 year lifetime. * * The running cost in salt is fairly effectively balanced by a reduction in the amount of washing detergents and shampoos that are used since they become more effective. * Therefore the avoidance of scale is a bonus on top of that. As far as I can see from the description of the Calmag on eBay it is actually a CalPhos phosphate doser - so presumably similar to the Combimate. |
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#4
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Scale inhibitors
On 2008-07-31 11:07:47 +0100, Keefiedee said:
As far as I can see from the description of the Calmag on eBay it is actually a CalPhos phosphate doser - so presumably similar to the Combimate. Sounds like it. If they talk about putting in a charge of pellets about once a year then it is. |
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#5
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Scale inhibitors
Keefiedee wrote:
On Jul 31, 10:41 am, Andy Hall wrote: On 2008-07-31 09:32:15 +0100, Keefiedee said: Have just purchased a shower thermostatic mixer from Screwfix. Instructions mention the need for a scale inhibitor if temporary hardness more than 200 ppm. Local water has hardness of nore than 400 ppm! Triton scale inhibitor costs £50 + £25 for replacement cartridges. I already have a magnetic device fitted (? Ecoflow). Ebay has two on offer - a Calmag scale inhibitor that requires regular cartridge replacement, and a Salamander Sesi electrolytic scale inhibitor. My question is - do these things work? No. Are they worth fitting? Yes. Are they a con? Yes. All comments gratefully received. Keith The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate or a proper ion exchange water softener that uses salt. A phosphate doser will prevent deposition of limescale but does not soften the water. A proper water softener will do both. The overall cost is a few hundred pounds (less than £500 normally) for the machine and you can reckon on a 20 year lifetime. The running cost in salt is fairly effectively balanced by a reduction in the amount of washing detergents and shampoos that are used since they become more effective. Therefore the avoidance of scale is a bonus on top of that. As far as I can see from the description of the Calmag on eBay it is actually a CalPhos phosphate doser - so presumably similar to the Combimate. The cleaning saved by using a water softener is amazing. No more scale except for the one untreated water tap in the kitchen. |
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#6
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Scale inhibitors
Invisible Man wrote: The cleaning saved by using a water softener is amazing. No more scale except for the one untreated water tap in the kitchen. Damn, I really _must_ get my finger out and get one... I put the plumbing/pipes in and everything when I re-plumbed about 3 or 4 years ago, even down to having a filtered hard water tap in the kitchen. I have taken to cleaning the shower glass with a stanley knife blade as a scraper! Absolutely no excuste... except job order priority. Unbelievably I even bought a bag of salt about 18 months ago... at this rate I may get one installed by 2020! :¬( -- http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk - Fitness+Gym Equipment. http://www.bodysolid-gym-equipment.co.uk http://www.trade-price-supplements.co.uk http://www.water-rower.co.uk |
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#7
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Scale inhibitors
"Andy Hall" wrote in message news:489188d3@qaanaaq... On 2008-07-31 09:32:15 +0100, Keefiedee said: Have just purchased a shower thermostatic mixer from Screwfix. Instructions mention the need for a scale inhibitor if temporary hardness more than 200 ppm. Local water has hardness of nore than 400 ppm! Triton scale inhibitor costs £50 + £25 for replacement cartridges. I already have a magnetic device fitted (? Ecoflow). Ebay has two on offer - a Calmag scale inhibitor that requires regular cartridge replacement, and a Salamander Sesi electrolytic scale inhibitor. My question is - do these things work? No. Are they worth fitting? Yes. Are they a con? Yes. All comments gratefully received. Keith The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate or a proper ion exchange water softener that uses salt. A phosphate doser will prevent deposition of limescale but does not soften the water. A proper water softener will do both. The overall cost is a few hundred pounds (less than £500 normally) for the machine and you can reckon on a 20 year lifetime. The running cost in salt is fairly effectively balanced by a reduction in the amount of washing detergents and shampoos that are used since they become more effective. Therefore the avoidance of scale is a bonus on top of that. An additional cost is the water charge if you are on metered water.. My 13 year old automatic water softener regenerates every 4 or 5 days at 2.00am. The cycle uses mains water to backflush and then flush saline solution at various rates.. Fortunately we are not on metered water but I wonder if softener manufacturers have reduced the amount of water used for this process on newer models.. I would find it hard to live without a water softener in a hard water area. Michael |
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#8
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Scale inhibitors
Michael Shergold wrote: An additional cost is the water charge if you are on metered water.. My 13 year old automatic water softener regenerates every 4 or 5 days at 2.00am. The cycle uses mains water to backflush and then flush saline solution at various rates.. Fortunately we are not on metered water but I wonder if softener manufacturers have reduced the amount of water used for this process on newer models.. I would find it hard to live without a water softener in a hard water area. I pondered over this but recently went to a water meter. Reason being Water was costing around £70 a month un-metered for 2 adults and one infant. (4 bed. house) No baths and no washing machine. At around what.... £1.50 for 1000 litres and a quick look at water usage per regeneration of 26 litres for this one.. http://eastmidlandswater.com/Details.asp?ProductID=87 that's a mere 4p per regeneration for 500 litres water (excluding salt) so I should be £'s in. All this talk has re-ignited my drive to get it sorted... I'd already decided on the EMWC one above so I think I'd better do the "less talk more action" bit. :¬) -- http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk - Fitness+Gym Equipment. http://www.bodysolid-gym-equipment.co.uk http://www.trade-price-supplements.co.uk http://www.water-rower.co.uk |
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#9
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Scale inhibitors
On 2008-07-31 15:04:51 +0100, "Michael Shergold"
said: An additional cost is the water charge if you are on metered water.. My 13 year old automatic water softener regenerates every 4 or 5 days at 2.00am. The cycle uses mains water to backflush and then flush saline solution at various rates.. Fortunately we are not on metered water but I wonder if softener manufacturers have reduced the amount of water used for this process on newer models.. I would find it hard to live without a water softener in a hard water area. Michael You could probably work out how much is used, but it would be surprising if it's a big factor. |
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#10
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Scale inhibitors
On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:41:39 +0100, Andy Hall wrote:
The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate Screwfix do a 'whole house' one (blue plastic canister that unscrews) for about £35. Don't go for the type with a metal canister that plugs into a chromed brass fitting on the pipework as the small waterways on those are prone to blocking up. -- John Stumbles The astronomer married a star |
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#11
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Scale inhibitors
John Stumbles wrote:
On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:41:39 +0100, Andy Hall wrote: The only two types of device that are worth fitting are a phosphate dosing system such as a Combimate Screwfix do a 'whole house' one (blue plastic canister that unscrews) for about £35. Don't go for the type with a metal canister that plugs into a chromed brass fitting on the pipework as the small waterways on those are prone to blocking up. .... with scale/fur no doubt! :-) -- Chris Green |
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#12
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Scale inhibitors
On Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:35:25 +0000, tinnews wrote:
... with scale/fur no doubt! :-) No, I assume it's redeposition of the scale inhibitor salt. Ironically. It makes such a compacted blockage I find I have to drill it out with a 2.5mm twist drill in my cordless. -- John Stumbles Press any key to continue or any other key to exit |
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