One for plumbers..mains water descalers

londonbairn · 22 Nov 2011 at 12:13

I live in London which is besieged with Limescale.

I like the look of products like http://www.dynapipe.co.uk/water-descaler-products.htm.

Do these work, and what are the best "wrap a round" descalers we can put at source?

Thanks
Rafie

Meridian · 22 Nov 2011 at 20:16

No external system will work. Scale doesn't respond to magnetism, so I'm struggling to work out how an external electromagnet can have the slightest effect on anything apart from your wallet. Fully plumbed in systems are the only ones which might have an effect.

M

wez130 · 23 Nov 2011 at 08:11

Would something like a Ro-Man RO system work?

Actually, that's totally different i think, ignore!

londonbairn · 23 Nov 2011 at 08:41

RO would be cool, but not sure if it's feasible to work on demand for the mains.

Meridian, what solutions do you recommend?

SeatIbiza · 23 Nov 2011 at 08:48

wez130 said:
Would something like a Ro-Man RO system work?

Actually, that's totally different i think, ignore!

That's a reverse osmosis system. I use it for my marine tank.

They are SLOW!!! Mine is a 75gpd (us gallons) and it'll probasbly do around 20-25 on my water pressure.

RO is not for drinking either.

As above you want a plumbed in water softner system. They're not cheap though at £500-1000 and you obviously need to replenish the softener...

londonbairn · 23 Nov 2011 at 08:57

SeatIbiza said:
That's a reverse osmosis system. I use it for my marine tank.

They are SLOW!!! Mine is a 75gpd (us gallons) and it'll probasbly do around 20-25 on my water pressure.

RO is not for drinking either.

As above you want a plumbed in water softner system. They're not cheap though at £500-1000 and you obviously need to replenish the softener...

Cost is ok, my only worry is the feasibility of installing it, as the there isn't too much exposed mains pipe in our utility cupboard to install additional valves and stop cocks, though I assume they could just add elbows to extend the length.

What are the best brands? Looking at Monarch ones at the moment.

Someone · 23 Nov 2011 at 10:05

Almost every new construction project that I have worked on for the past 4.5 years (approx 30 - 40) have been installing these on the mains supply to the building. They used to have a model that wrapped around the pipe but it seems that they have stopped that and only have a model that needs to be plumbed in. I am not sure if they make a model suitable for a single home as all of the projects I have worked on have been large builds.

Also you cannot drink water that has been through a softener and had salts added so if you did go for a softener like that you would need to take a branch off your main supply pipework (before it connects to the softener) to where ever you want drinking water eg kitchen sink.

Meridian · 23 Nov 2011 at 20:31

Someone said:
Almost every new construction project that I have worked on for the past 4.5 years (approx 30 - 40) have been installing these on the mains supply to the building. They used to have a model that wrapped around the pipe but it seems that they have stopped that and only have a model that needs to be plumbed in. I am not sure if they make a model suitable for a single home as all of the projects I have worked on have been large builds.

OK, I just read this bit on that link:

In its simplest terms, an electromagnetic field (more powerful and effective than magnetic solutions) repeatedly enters a flow of water. This electromagnetic field crosses the water at a precise 90° angle, causing a change in the structure of the hard water crystals.

I'm sorry, but that's 100% BS. These do not work. I repeat: any purely external "cure" for hard water is useless. Only proper de-ionisers or filters inside the pipework will have the slightest effect.

M