Hard water and Limescale

[Irene]

Here in Stafford, the water creates more limescale deposits than anywhere else I know!!

Does anyone have any experience of dealing with this type of problem?

The dishwasher has its' own water softner in the added salt, but every other appliance is subjected to limescale attack!

We have just replaced the kitchen and included a Tri-Flow Tap in order to try to overcome the problem for the electric kettle. Unfortunately, the filter does not remove calcium. :(

Consequently, I am on a mission to find a resolution for a 'whole house' solution.

I found two kinds of filter. One uses 'resin' and salt, the other an electrical method.

If you have used anything to combat a problem like this, I would be very pleased to hear your views.

[andsome]

ANY GOOD? :D

[Mike567]

CALGON!!

I dunno really but i remember a calgon advert.

[AlanHo]

ANY GOOD? :D

A friend in Cheshire with the same water problem has tried various things - including a cheap and cheerful magnetic device (maybe the one you posted andsome) - it didn't work.

He installed a chemical softener which uses salt blocks in twin towers. One is in use whilst the second one regenerates and vici versa. The manufacturers went out of business a couple of years ago but he tells me there are several manufacturers who sell similar things - and they work.

Irene - I assume you have asked around in your area to see if any neighbours have solved the problem. Your locals citizens advice or your water provider may have some info - you never know.

[catgate]

There appears to be no solution better than the long standing tried and test method of passing the water through an ion exchange unit.

These are not cheap and can vary from the small wall mounted low and slow throughput types used in labs,, right up to the units as big as a petrol tanker used in industry.

In them the water is "treated"with a resin (Zeolite used to be a favourite commercial brand). The resin "exchanges" ions with the water which prevents the scale forming. In so doing it becomes "depleted" and needs regenerating by treatment with salt. In the small lab. type it is simply a case of swapping the resin cartridge on an exchange basis.

But in the big units brine is circulated through the resin and then the unit is "backwashed" to get rid of the salt... and off you go again. Yes it is messy and you need some equipment to determine when to regenerate etc....but it works.

We have hard water and I fitted one of those peculiar things which is more or less length of wire a coiled round the incoming cold water pipe, connected to a pulsed transformer plugged into the mains. It does not do as it says on the tin. I fail to see how it can, but it does REDUCE the scaling quite noticably.

[AlanHo]

Some units here

[Irene]

Many thanks for the quick replies.

I assume you have asked around in your area to see if any neighbours have solved the problem.

As a matter of fact, my DH said the same, Alan. You're right, they must experience the exact same difficulties.

There appears to be no solution better than the long standing tried and test method of passing the water through an ion exchange unit.

We have hard water and I fitted one of those peculiar things which is more or less length of wire a coiled round the incoming cold water pipe, connected to a pulsed transformer plugged into the mains.

catgate, these are the two products which my research came up with. The first was £495, the £99.

Do you know where the 'ion method' is likely required to be installed? If it were in the loft, for example, it would be very inconvenient to maintain.

andsome, I'll have a read through your link. Thanks!

Mike567, I think Calgon would be good for individual appliances, but I am not aware of a 'whole house' Calgon solution.

[Irene]

Some units here

These are the exact ones I found with my search, Alan. :D

[-pops-]

Remember that people of our age (and both sexes) may need calcium to avoid the onset of osteoporosis - hard water may help to provide at least part of that requirement. It is also useful in the diets of the young to aid bone development (there was even one of these mineral water brands advertised as containing this "special" ingredient). The point is, don't be too keen on removing all calcium from your drinking water.

The old domestic ion exchange systems as mentioned by catgate were made by Permutit - who were taken over a long time ago.

Some modern softener suppliers are outlined here http://www.top-uk.co.uk/results.html?for=Water-Softeners

[Irene]

Remember that people of our age (and both sexes) may need calcium to avoid the onset of osteoporosis

Correct there -pops-, I already take a prescribed daily calcium supplement.

The trouble is that our water is completely over-subscribed by calcium! :lol:

[rong]

Two things, the first is if you have a high calcium level in your water do you take a supplement? The second is you need to check the price of Calgon as unless it has come down in price allot it is cheaper to get a new washing machine every so often than use it, work out how long your machine lasts and how much the Calgon would cost over the same period, when it first came out we could have had a new washing machine every three or so years, and most will last at least 5 years.

[Irene]

Remember that people of our age (and both sexes) may need calcium to avoid the onset of osteoporosis

Correct there -pops-, I already take a prescribed daily calcium supplement.

The trouble is that our water is completely over-subscribed by calcium! :lol:

As already mentioned, rong, I do take a prescribed daily supplement. :)

The second is you need to check the price of Calgon as unless it has come down in price allot it is cheaper to get a new washing machine every so often than use it, work out how long your machine lasts and how much the Calgon would cost over the same period, when it first came out we could have had a new washing machine every three or so years, and most will last at least 5 years.

rong, I agree with you about the cost of Calgon.

Whilst it is effective to an individual appliance, I couldn't justify the cost. It's a pity they can't bring the price down somewhat, instead of fleecing the unfortunate consumer with hard water problems.

[rong]

The question was why do you take the supplement.

[catgate]

catgate, these are the two products which my research came up with. The first was £495, the £99.

Do you know where the 'ion method' is likely required to be installed? If it were in the loft, for example, it would be very inconvenient to maintain.

In my humble opinion it needs installing at the water utilities premises, but they will not want to do that. So you are on your own.

Thus, ideally, it needs installing as near to your water meter or incoming stop tap as possible. There is usually a lot of pipe work before your water gets to your loft ( In fact unless you have a most peculiar arrangement all your mains pressure cold water (with the possible exception of a cold feed to a shower) will be spurred off the rising cold mains pipe going to your loft. Only the hot water system and the central heating system need a low pressure constant head feed.) So, unless you install it (whatever it turns out to be) where I have said, you will have quite a lot of your pipe water unprotected by it.

edit:- It would be ideal, if you have the space outside, to put up a little house for your ion exchange unit with you mains feed diverted directly into that. It would need some form of lagging orfrost protection heating of course, but it would certainly make maintenance easier.

[Irene]

The question was why do you take the supplement.

Well, in spite of the over abundance of calcium in our water, I have a calcium deficiency.

Consequently, I take two Calcichew-D3 each day.

The condition was discovered during routine profile blood tests.

However, our water is severely damaging to all of our heated appliances.

It also has an effect on skin condition and hair.

Before the replacement kitchen installation, we used a Brita Jug, changing the filter on a regular basis. This water was used for drinking, cooking and for filling the steam iron. I had hoped that the Tri-Flow tap would eradicate the requirement for the Brita process, but unfortunately the tap filter does not address the calcium deposit problem. :(

[Irene]

In my humble opinion it needs installing at the water utilities premises, but they will not want to do that.

I couldn't agree more!!