Water softener

[little_roundtop]

In Crete the water is particularly hard, it is mostly limestone after all. I just had to replace the element in my calorifier after only just over a year because it had become thickly calcified and burned itself out. We do tend to leave it switched on most of the time we're in the marina (which has been a lot this year). I plan to fit a timer switch so that it only comes on for 15 mins a day.

My question is about water softeners, specifically magnetic field ones like this one. Do these things actually reduce limescale or are they a waste of money? Does anyone use one for example (at home or on the boat)? Is it worth me fitting one of these to the cold water inlet hose on the calorifier do you think? Would it work if the coil was wrapped around the plastic pipe on my boat or even the rubber hose, rather than the usual copper pipe?

Thanks!

 

[Davy_S]

We are having to live with similar problems (at home). We have observed friends fitting the latest gismos to their water pipes etc. none we have seen have made me get my wallet out and buy the same. None have worked, or the cost has been prohibitive. Regarding domestic appliances, washing machine etc, we use Calgon, it has kept everything limescale free for 7 years.We have sealed pressurised water for hot water pressure shower, a 40 litre tank serves us well (two peeps) a new tank complete with immersion heater is only 100 europs, i can fit it in under 1 hour. When I see the price of a yacht calorifier i shudder. they are just the same thing!
Sorry, can't help with the yacht bit.

 

[nigelmercier]

The magnetic ones are snake oil. You could get a domestic one and modify it to recharge using sea water!

 

[tolhurstorganic]

I have fitted several of the magnetic devices to domestic properties, one to my mother in laws house in Moldova (bet hardly any of you know where that is?) the water there is straight from a well in limestone, very hard water. These devices do not soften water but work by keeping the calcium carbonate in suspension thereby avoiding it settling on surfaces, the water remains hard. I am satisfied that they are effective after a two year trial. Used to have to chip the lime out of the kettle every few months, it is clean now apart from a very slight shadow of material which cleans off easily enough once a year.
I have not considered fitting one to Naida due to the need to run it through an inverter, I do not wish to use battery power up. If anybody knows of a 12v dc version be good to know about it. They come with a 12v ac-ac transformer and only use 200ma so could be done with solar I suspect. Screwfix good for them.

 

[VicS]

I have fitted several of the magnetic devices to domestic properties, one to my mother in laws house in Moldova (bet hardly any of you know where that is?) the water there is straight from a well in limestone, very hard water. These devices do not soften water but work by keeping the calcium carbonate in suspension thereby avoiding it settling on surfaces, the water remains hard. I am satisfied that they are effective after a two year trial. Used to have to chip the lime out of the kettle every few months, it is clean now apart from a very slight shadow of material which cleans off easily enough once a year.
I have not considered fitting one to Naida due to the need to run it through an inverter, I do not wish to use battery power up. If anybody knows of a 12v dc version be good to know about it. They come with a 12v ac-ac transformer and only use 200ma so could be done with solar I suspect. Screwfix good for them.

Interesting.

Perhaps the permanent magnet types will be just as effective. If they are that will solve the power consumption problem.

 

[Baddox]

The magnets are a very effective means of separating money from people who don’t know any better. Save your cash for something that works.

 

[nigelmercier]

The magnets are a very effective means of separating money from people who don’t know any better.

Excellent quote.

 

[VicS]

The magnets are a very effective means of separating money from people who don’t know any better. Save your cash for something that works.

Presumably you know better because you have tested them.

Perhaps you would care to summarize the tests you carried out

 

[VicS]

Excellent quote.

You ve tested them as well then!

 

[ex-Gladys]

At home I had a new Combi boiler fitted and after a lot of research fitted a thing called a Combimate which uses food grade polyphosphate to keep the carbonate in solution... Works well, was less than £100 and the marbles to fill it up have lasted 18 months plus and are cheap... May be worth a look

 

[Ric]

Try adding a splosh of white vinegar to your water tank.

 

[galeus]

Two months ago I added a permanent magnet type scale inhibitor (Tool Station, page310 £27.84) on the pipe exiting the water tank and we have not noticed any less scale in the kettle. One assumes they should work straight away on a clean kettle.

 

[little_roundtop]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I've been reading about magnetic water softening myself of course, it seems that whilst there is no clear scientific evidence that it works, there is also too much anecdotal evidence that it does for it to be dismissed out of hand. It also seems that reputable scientists are wary of conducting any serious investigations now because they are afraid of being ridiculed.

In any case SWMBO (what would I do without her?) has pointed out that we probably don't want a bunch of strong magnets only just over a metre from one of our compasses and right next to the autohelm computer. Sensible girl that.

I'll stick with the timer switch I think.

Thanks again all!

 

[nigelmercier]

I've been reading about magnetic water softening myself of course, it seems that whilst there is no clear scientific evidence that it works, there is also too much anecdotal evidence ...

Pretty much the same as for homeopath[et]ic nonsense.

 

[RichardS]

The magnetic ones are snake oil. You could get a domestic one and modify it to recharge using sea water!

Now that's an interesting idea, Nigel!

The ion-exchange resin has to be regenerated with sodium chloride solution when it stops replacing the calcium carbonate ions in the water supply.

It must be possible to calculate how much sea water needs to be passed through the resin tank to regenerate the resin without the need to use any external salt.

A quick wash through with fresh water after regeneration and bob's your uncle - cheap softened water!

Richard

 

[nigelmercier]

A quick wash through with fresh water after regeneration ...

Water softeners do this automatically, but I wouldn't drink the water after a sea water regeneration. My water softener uses about 2kg of salt for each regeneration, so that's about 60 litres of seawater at 3.5% salinity.