TECHNICAL PLUMBING

Adey's MagnaClean offers both magnetic and non-magnetic filtration.

be cut by as much as 80% suspension when the water is required after installation and in hard-water areas. There is heated. Devices are usually some devices can last as long are many products designed plumbed-in at the cold mains as ten years. The devices are specifically to remove any water inlet or before an individual available in sizes ranging from corrosion, deposits and limescale appliance. 15mm to 54mm to make them from a heating system. Chemical water treatment well suited to both domestic and reduces the corrosion of vital commercial appliances. Water softeners parts, like pipes and radiators. They are able to permanently Water softeners use a process It also prevents future scaling. alter the structure of the crystals called exchange. The softener Inhibitors can be used in both within limescale without the unit contains a column filled with open and sealed systems. use of either chemicals or a beads of a resin that remove A 500ml bottle is usually enough power supply. This works via Pipe nightmares – the very serious impact of long-term limescale build-up. the dissolved and to treat a 100 litre system, which the deliberate addition of very from the hard works out at up to 10 single small quantities of dissolved water flowing through it, replacing radiators – the equivalent of an metal (usually zinc or ), into them with sodium. Periodically – average 3-4 bedroom house. the system. usually once a day - the softener These ions firstly promote regenerates the resin by washing Water filters the formation of the needle- with brine (sodium chloride Water filters are able to remove shaped crystals within limescale, solution), which carries the both magnetic and non-magnetic then permanently alter the calcium and magnesium to the contaminants from the system. structure of the hard salt crystals drain, and leaving fresh sodium The devices are plumbed into responsible for the cause ions on the resin ready for the the water supply. The connection of scaling by disrupting the Treated well next treatment cycle. to the water supply must be positively charged particles. As Regeneration is usually fitted with a non-return valve a result, the crystals don’t clump triggered automatically by either and the drain connection for a together and form limescale. As boiler manufacturers strive to create ever more an electronic timer or mechanical reverse osmosis unit must have So rather than cling to efficient appliances, the need for the correct cleansing and water flow meter. The unit has to an air-break. appliances and pipes, the crystals maintenance of a heating system has never been more be refilled with salt (in the form of There are magnetic devices, are drawn to one another. This is granules, small tablets or blocks) which prevent scale on individual achieved when the two metals The new Eliminator system from important. Colin MacGregor provides an overview of the Sentinel uses four magnets and typically once a month. Water appliances, like washing machines within the electrolytic unit – four cyclones to eliminate debris. common solutions. suppliers define the level of total and dishwashers. Electrolytic copper body (cathode) and the water hardness in milligrams per devices provide a further solution, zinc (anode) – interact. They can ny build-up of scale This means that when hard Scale litre (mg/l) of . as they can be either installed to then be wiped away or flushed Efficiency loss or sludge in a heating water is heated to above 55°C, thickness The water supply is considered protect an entire property or a through the system. ■ system will undermine the dissolved minerals solidify as to be hard if it is above 200mg/l single appliance – no maintenance 2mm 20% the performance of the moisture evaporates to form – softening products generally The Salamander's SESI is an A 4mm 30% electrolytic scale inhibitor a boiler. However, the reduced limescale and deposits. This then reduces the hardness to less efficiency that this causes is not separates and sticks to nearby than 10mg/l. that offers whole house 6mm 40% protection against limescale. The author simply a consequence of an old surfaces in pipes and appliances. The choice of softener Colin McGregor has over heating system. A build-up of 8mm 50% will depend on the size of TO SUM UP thirty years of experience limescale can quickly affect any Limescale effects 10mm 60% the property, the number of › As much of 65% of the country is considered to have hard in the heating industry, modern, high-efficiency product. According to British Water, occupants, the hardness of water - a four person household can accumulate up to embarking on his career In fact, if the water in a new 1.6mm of limescale in a heating Table 1. Efficiency loss due the water supply and the most after finishing school. In to limescale build-up. 70kg of limescale in a year. heating system it is not correctly system can cause a 12% loss in suitable position for its installation. that time he has worked his way up to the position treated it can be up to 6% less heat transfer from the energy central heating pipes, clogging Other factors to consider are the › A brand new heating system that is not correctly treated of Parts Center’s Trading efficient within just a matter source to water. Obviously, the them up. This contamination in a size of the plumbing pipework can be up to 6% less efficient within a matter of weeks. Director. Today, service of weeks. thicker the level of limescale, the system can lead to noisy boilers, and whether the system is a › remains his focus, ensuring Limescale is more predominant larger the loss of efficiency to the radiator cold spots, low heat traditional storage tank or the Water softeners use ion exchange to combat the formation that Parts Center is able in areas, which heating system (see Table 1). levels, slow operation, leaking modern direct system. of limescale. to offer customers what accounts for 65% of the country. It is estimated that hard valves, and eventually a complete › Chemical water treatment reduces the corrosion of vital they want, when they This is because hard water water contains an average of breakdown of the system. This Chemical treatment parts, like pipes and radiators, and prevents future scaling. want it, at over 500 contains calcium carbonate 300mg of dissolved minerals per is an important point, because Some work by adding small branches nationwide. and magnesium. This calcium is litre – a four-person household essentially the lifespan of amounts of phosphate to the › Water filters are able to remove both magnetic and non- harmless to drink, but the salts can accumulate up to 70kg of appliances will be reduced. water. This reacts with the magnetic contaminants from the system. within are more soluble in hot limescale in a year. A significant The result is that the average dissolved mineral ions responsible water than they are in cold water. amount of this stays inside 10–15 year lifespan of a boiler can for limescale, keeping them in

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