Do electronic limescale inhibitors work?
I’ve been intermittently toying with the idea of fitting an Anti-Limescale device to the water supply in our home.
Today, with the delivery of a new phone book, I got a flyer describing a product called ScaleWatcher which reminded me of my occasional curiosity with the subject. It’s a nice convincing-looking flyer, with a money back guarantee, so I’m tempted to give it a go.
We have a nice glass sided kettle so it’ll be really obvious if it actually works.
I may be forced to try a little experiment and take daily pictures of my kettle, so please spare me from the madness and give me some definite answers:
- Has anyone I know actually used a household electric water softener?
- Was the experience worthwhile?
- Are they any better than the magnetic or salt based ones?
352 Comments
Don’t know if you care anymore, but…
http://www.waterimp.co.uk/report.html
Re waterimp report
Why do we only get your summery of the report?
Thanks for that link Nick, it’s a good example of why things get ambiguous when science and marketing hold hands. I have a couple of minor observations.
Firstly, the actual report is unpublished, so although I can be certain that the Water-Imp was tested (because I checked with the Bath Uni. CE Dept.), it’s not possible for other people to repeat the experiments (e.g. on different water supplies with different mineral composition) or to understand exactly what was tested. It’s also impossible to re-interpret the results as more is learned about the subject area.
Secondly, I notice that the page calls the device a “Super Imp Limescale remover” when it’s apparent, even from the limited text on the page, that the tests were only conducted to discover whether the device would inhibit the formation of limescale – the tests do not seek to prove whether the device can or cannot remove limescale.
The second thing is a small but vital point. It illustrates how the tests for this product do not reflect the way it is being marketed by the company. There are very specific claims on the front page of the website as follows:
“Extensive trials and laboratory testing [i.e. "the report"] … has shown the Water Imp system to excel at …[reversing] the damage caused by furring up and blocking of water pipes, while also increasing the water flow throughout the entire household”
The tests do not appear to show this at all.
The good news, therefore, is that for inhibiting limescale, this particular product has been proven.
The bad news is that the product was altered a year later and the tests have not been repeated – and what’s more – because the report wasn’t published, nobody else can repeat the tests.
I’ve got a Scalewatcher, one of the electronic things where you wrap the wires round the pipes so there’s no plumbing involved. If it does anything at all then I have to say that either it’s minimal or our water has got much harder since it’s been installed as we still have bad limescale problems.
This thing cost £300 odd and to be honest, I wouldn’t bother again.
I decided to look on the internet for information about these electronic water conditioners after watching a very convincing commercial on that Ideal World satellite channel. I think the general concensus is that they don`t work, its just a good marketing ploy. I live in a hard water area and about four years ago, I replaced the hot water tank. It had been in the house for at least 30 years and the limescale build up inside was nowhere near the ludicrous amount that was inside the one on the TV commercial. Until there is concrete scientific evidence to support these claims, I would recommend that you give them a wide berth.
I am a distributor of the Ecoflow h2flow product. I sell by mail order from my website into hardwater areas. H2flow is easily fitted using cable ties to the incoming mains pipe. It features a patented design of strontium ceramic magnet with six polarity changes along its length. No power is needed, no chemicals and no cutting. The product is guaranteed ten years and comes with a 90-day 100% money back performance guarantee. The magnet is guaranteed not to lose more than 1% of its magnetism in 100 years. This product works – I promise.
As a provider of technical training to the plumbing industry one of the questions we are often asked is, Do the wire wrap lime sacle inhibitor work? My answer has always been – I don’t know.
The reason that I do not know is that there is very little hard scientific evidence to suggest HOW they might work.
For example, there is good evidence that if you heat up hard water (ie water with disolved Calicium Carbonate CaCO3 & Magnesium Carbonate MgCO3) above about 63C it will start to percipitate out and lead to limescale build-up. This by the way is one of the reasons for keeping the water temp in your hot water storage cylinder between 55C and 60c.
Using a salt (NaCl) based water softener results in the Ca & Mg ions being ‘exchanged’ for Na ions in Zeolite filter inside the water softener. The Resulting NaCO3 (Sodium Carbonate) remains soluable in the water at higher temp thus preventing the build up of lime scale and the water feels softer. Over time the Zeolite filter becomes full or clogged with CaCl and MgCl which must be removed and replenished with NaCl – this is done during the regeneration cylce. So there are clearly understood chemical and physical changes taking place in the water and scientific evidence to back it up.
I would VERY much like to see – as I am really interested to know – the scientific explanation as to how passing an EMF or a permanent magnetic field through the water changes the chemical and physical properties of the Ca & Mg carbonates so that they do not percipitate out at 63C. To the best of my knowledge (and I’m happy to be proved wrong) CaCO3 and MgCO3 are only very, very, very weakly magnetic – unlike many ferric and colbolt compounds.
Your very curious – Jim
Comment – I bought and installed a water imp about a year ago. fitted it to the rising main in the kitchen. We have an aluminium saucepan that has been our ‘egg boiling’ pan for years. It had a considerable amount of limescale inside (we live in kent and have very hard water) built up over the years and large bits would flake off as I was boiling eggs. Since I fitted the water imp about a year ago the saucepan appears to have cleaned itself somewhat of scale to the extent that I never see a bit floating round in the water. I think our kettle is cleaner but wife is not so sure. Our shower cabinet (that I have just finished regrouting and descaling) showed no benefits.
As I understand the claims for water conditioners it is the high frequency radio wave action on the structure of the calcium particules that allegedy inhibits the propensity of the calcium particles to form scale.
However I am still not sure – I would like to believe it because the hassle and cost of a water softener is not attractive – any one else comment???
I had a shower that required the head to be dismantled every other day to flush out the crud. I saw these magnets being advertised on e-bay and decided at that price it would be worth a trial. I purchased and fitted one. 2 weeks later there is no need to dismantle the shower head. It worked, but how I still don’t know.
I am researching this myself. There is not much information online other than marketing material, but this article looks useful.
Looking for a limescale remover for the cold water supply. asked the same question myself “do these filters work” very interesting text from Jim. Hope we get an accurate answer from somewon in the know?. Eddy
Yes electronic water descalers do work.
Limescale is a crystalline form of Calcium carbonate.
Calcium carbonate is unusual in that it has a variety of crystal forms including Marble, very hard but brittle, Chalk, very soft and crumbly, and Limescale, very hard and very difficult to break.
Limescale, deposited from untreated water, forms as long thread like crystals, called dentrices. These dentrices weave together, which is the reason why Limescale is so hard and difficult to break.
The right electromagnetic field can modify the crystal forming characteristics of Limescale. The crystals formed are small, round and smooth so they do not cling together and wash through the water system. They do not collect in the pipes, in the boiler or in places like the shower head.
All of the water which passes through the electromagnetic field is treated. The effect lasts around 2-3 days.
Our web site describes an electronic water descaler to fit a 15 mm (half inch) pipe. For larger units, the principle of operation is the same but larger units may be required.
Bought an ECOflow magnetic descaler which is fitted to the mains. No it does not work I have had a new self-condensing combi boiler & brand new central heating system also brand new taps fitted throughout the house. I keep the hot temperature at a temperature of only 50C and there are deposits of limescale on all taps and the shower head. This system has been installed for nearly 2 years (July05). I have to confess the shower head has only just been removed to be descaled probably only twice but I think that is more to do with the temperature I have the hot water at though. Incidentally, the kitchen tap (closest to the magnetic de-scaler)is the worst, forming deposits actually on the swan neck of the tap itself. I am sorry but I wouldn’t recommend wasting your hard-earned money. I think I would rather pay extra to the water authorities to do something on a national basis then everybody would benefit.
Thanks Ann, that’s interesting to hear. I wonder if anyone else with electronic devices has been similarly disappointed.
I’ve now had an electro-magnetic water softener installed for 12 months and I can confirm similarly lackluster results.
The bathroom sink plughole still gets a calcium rim that has to be removed manually, and the kettle is still edged with a thin but incredibly tough calcium sheet.
I’m sure they work, so I have bought a box of them which I store in the spare room next to the crate of spin drier balls I bought off those caring folk at JML last week.
I have tried a Scalewatcher in a hard water area in Italy – it didn’t work. I have tried an Imp in a hard water area in England – didn’t work. They returned my money as promised. I too would love to believe that this method works, but in my experience it doesn’t
The answer is clear……..
Come and live in Wales where we have no limescale problems
We get limescale because our water filters through chalky hillsides nearby, so does Welsh Water get coalscale?
Coal? There aint no coal left in them there hills no more! The black gold arrives by boat these days….
I found this explanation of how it works.
I too would like to see some evidence that electronic water conditioners really worked because, if they did, I would fit one in my house which is in a hard water area. Unfortunately anecdotal evidence is virtually worthless for proving anything and I have not been able to find any published results of properly controlled independant tests. More importantly, if these units do work, there must be a scientific explanation as to why they work, and this is something which I have never seen. The explanations given by the manufacturers are pseudo-science at best and gibberish at worst. The explanation in Kathy’s mail might sound reasonable at first, but if you think about it you will realise that the impurities in the water will have an even larger total surface area before they bond together, and therefore the electronic conditioning would make the situation worse and not better!
Finally, I work with electronics systems for satellites and the sort of electronics which these units probably contain could be made for pounds, but the manufacturers charge hundreds of pounds for the completed units. I therefore think they would be vastly over-priced even if they did work.
Similarly I have an interest in these items, as I sell water filters and would really like to be able to add these to our range.
Every one I have tried here in Bath, has not worked in back to back tests. Our water is hard (398mg/l).
Wessex Water have improved the quality of the water here, but I now have a “proper” softener.
That works, but it does need looking after and costs money to run (salt).
Rich,
I, too, was just about to fit a water “conditioner” to augment the rather lame/expensive performance of our water softener, but thanks to your blog I’ve saved myself at least £100.
Where do I send the cheque….
Thanks!!!!
Perhaps Water Aid could do something more appropriate with it than I!
I’ve been making and selling our Little Plumbers for years and so far we have had nothing but praise. It’s really important to know if your plumbing system is VENTED or UNVENTED because if it’s vented you’ll need TWO units. One on the riser and one on the cold down pipe from the loft tank to the hot water cylinder. It shows you on my site.
It is also really important to speak to someone who “knows” what they are talking about because some Companies marketing electronic de-scalers simply don’t have a clue how they work. Also be sure you get one with a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE so if it doesn’t work you can get your money back.
We are proud of our Little Plumber range (www.littleplumber.com) and are happy to help anyone who needs to know a bit more.
I’ve installed this one from Maplin:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=N72AU&DOY=23m3
http://www.kemo-electronic.com/en/module/m101a/index.htm
Doesn’t seem to be doing anything so far. I also uncovered this report by
the US Army that tested both static magnetic and electronic methods. It
found no effect.
http://www.cecer.army.mil/techreports/Hock_MagneticDescalers/Hock_MagneticDescalers.pdf
I think it’s probably hokum.
It seems like they work for some people but not for others, so it’s very hit and miss. I am still considering buying a water imp. If it doesn’t work I can always send it back for a refund…
Having read thru the previous replies I am reasonably (not completely) convinced that these items are of little (if any) value.The lack of consistent evidence, scientific and anecdotal, would tend to suggest that the only parties who see positive results are parties who have a commercial interest in plugging the product/s. As with many ‘dubious’ products the more one pays the easier it becomes to identify the benefits. I’m looking to pay as much as possible.
Several years ago – probably about 10 years ago – I bought and installed a Scalewatcher. I have to say that it did not work in anything like the way I had expected. That is to say, we continued to get limescale. The lack of success continued despite me being persuaded to try fitting on the outlet from our plastic coldwater storage tank.
However, I have encountered another product which promises to eradicate limescale. It is a CEPI Magnetic Conditioner produced by a Belgian company Vero Magnetics. The device is actually plumbed into the inlet water supply. It is said to work by causing the water to pass through what is in effect a magnetised funnel. Thereafter, the formation of hard and adherent scale is diminished or prevented – that is what the literature promises. The warranty promises replacement with another unit or complete reimbursement of the net invoiced sum within 2 years.
Why am I subjecting myself to manufacturer’s claims? First and foremost, I accept I have been influenced by a very persuasive salesman – a engineering friend of 30 years standing who works in the production of water features and who now has the distribution rights on the CEPI system in the UK. To be fair, he was not trying to sell me the product when the subject came up: we happened to be chatting on a social occasion and he did not know I had a prior interest in the subject.
From him I have gleaned the following facts: the CEPI device was developed by the man behing Vero Magnetics in the decade starting 1934. After the war, he patented his product worldwide. It has been used in a number of establishments where its very success has a curious effect. Go to, apparently, Rolls Royce and ask about their limescale problem. The answer will come that they do not have one. The reason is that many moons (and managers) ago, the CEPI units were installed and, because they require no maintenance or power, they have remained in place doing their job while those responsible for the decision to install them have moved on. Their legacy is perception that the factory has not got a limescale problem.
From my friend, I understand that the system is mandatory in Belgian households and that the Kent County Council is expressing interest.
As for me, well – I installed it into my rising main on Easter Saturday. I will wait and see. I have yet to install an additional unit, one between the pump of a power shower and the shower head, that is called for because the action of the pump removes the magnetising effect on the water.
I will keep you posted.
Heres an interesting article with a load of references
http://www.etpwater.com/Reports/Keefe/keefe.html
And this
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/water/magnets/
There are some products available that really do work. I use and have become a dealer for the Soo-Soft Digital Water Softener line of products. You can view considerable material at my web site at softwatersite.com, including the ability to see and contact reference customers. On a comparative basis to products like scale watcher, the Soo-Soft units are much more powerful as measured by output power to the coil. To be effective, the product needs to be digital rather than analog, needs to have the ability to produce a range of wave frequencies, and need to be properly installed on either copper or plastic pipe – never galvanized pipe.
There isn’t a great deal of product specific research for any of these products. Probably for 3 main reasons:
1. Lack of desire driven by factions not desiring real change
2. An overabundance of products that are not effective and not seeking proof of that point
3. Inability of some manufacturers to afford funding the testing processes.
That leaves the consumer with the delima of sticking with the old chemical based technology that will soften water but will not remove existing scale nor fully prevent new scale formation, or taking a leap of faith and trying something new. It also leaves the consumer challenged with the thought that hard water can’t be made soft if the calcium is not removed from the water. Claims that the products effectively descale existing calcium are conceptually difficult to accept even when you try the products because of the difficulty in examining the results inside your plumbing system. However, there are direct observations that can be made to prove or disprove the descaling claims and there are subjective observations each individual can make regarding the “attributes” of soft water.
With any of the products you can do the following “before and after” tests and decide if they are effective in your instance:
1. Look at and take pictures of the lime scale build up that exists in your water tanks to your toilets. In hard water settings, scale forms on all the metal parts and continues to build up. After approximately 90 days with an effective product, that lime scale will be removed. The time period may be shorter where there is more frequent flow of treated water as in a master bathroom rather than a seldom used guest bathroom. After 90 days, take another look and compare to the original picture. An effective product will clear the scale.
2. Monitor the time it takes for a hot water tank to fully reheat and recover after someone takes a bath (it is helpful to fill the tub to the same level for this test. Mark down that time before installation and compare that number to a repeat test 90 days after installation. If the product is effective, the heating element inside the hot water heater will descale allowing it to heat much more effectively and therby shortening the time it takes to fully recover and achieve the heat level. An effective product will make this happen which means you will save some level of heating energy over time as well as extend the life span of that hot water heater.
3. Measure the amount of detergent normally used for laundry both before installation and again at the 90 day mark. There should be a significant reduction in the amount of detergent required to produce the suds you require to clean your laundry and allow you to see that your rinse water is not still full of soap suds.
4. Observe the inside of your dishwasher if you use one. Before installation the heating element and the walls and trays are usually coated with limescale. After a few washes with treated water, you should see that coating being removed.
5. Judge for yourself the “attributes of soft water. These are softer hair, softer laundry, clearer glassware, no scale formation on fixtures, easier cleanup of surfaces where water may stand and dry.
Any reputable product will come with a money back guarantee that is greater than the 90 day period it generally takes to completely clear a home that has not previously been treated with a water softener.
One other test in older homes that have experienced drops in water pressure (but still have some level of water flow through the pipes) is that the pressure will be regained after the descaling process completes.
There seems to be a general trend emerging here, those that sell electronic limescale inhibitors claim they work while those that use them say they don’t work (work it out for yourself). I myself bought a block salt softener 2 years ago, and this undoubtedly does work very well indeed. I live in a house where the dish washer and washing machine are going on a daily basis (not to mention the shower) and the salt costs me about £1.50 per week.
Fitted a Scalewatcher around 15 years ago. It has made no difference whatsoever. I was scammed well and truly! Go for a traditional salt version or don’t bother.
We have really hard water here in Reading. We tried a few anti-scale devices on our boiler before a plumber suggested a local company called Scalgon. They make a device called the Scale 3. They also give a money back guarantee that it will work, so we couldn’t go wrong. Best of all it was only £70 and it has kept our boiler free of scale since it was fitted. I’m looking for a liquid to get rid of scale around the loo.
Try malt vinegar in toilet to beat the scale. Leave to soak over night – bio degradable, cheap and nice not to buy yet another cleaning product
I brought a Super Imp about 4 years ago and it’s been installed on the copper pipe right where the mains enters the house. I was very sceptical about these electronic water conditioners too but surprisingly it does seem to work.
I live in Kent and my shower heads clogged up very quickly before I installed the device. Since installing the device I have not had to dismantle and submerge the heads in limescale removal chemicals. There is still some limescale but it’s much easier to clean off and is not hard or as thick as it was before. I don’t need to use the heavy duty limescale chemicals or use heavy scrubbing. My shower heads haven’t clogged up with limescale since.
I think maybe the quality of these devices vary, some working better than others? Also are there different types of limescale? some being more difficult to treat? does ambient temperature, flow rate, water pressure, pipe thickness etc affect the performance of these devices? there seems to be so many variables which may affect if these devices work or won’t work.
I too would like a reputable independent scientific body to carry out test on an range of these devices to see if/how they work, and if they do work which work the best. Somebody to open them up and see what they contain inside (and how much they actually cost to produce).
Btw why don’t water companies treat hard water and pipe softened water down the mains? surely this would be a great way to save energy en mass (everyone uses less shampoo, detergents, more efficient heating, less repairs etc)… even if it meant a few more pence on the water bill the overall saving in efficiency would probably be worth it.
Lets get one thing straight.
There are water conditioners and there are water softeners.
Water conditioners do not remove limescale, they simply
control it.
There are various types of water conditioners.
Electronic use the coils that wrap around the pipe work.
Magnetic and Electrolytic are intrusive, they are installed
into the pipework.
They work by altering the morphology of the calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ions that are present in hard water.
As the water passes through the electronic (radio frequency)
field / magnetic or electrolytic field, the ions are effected
rendering them into much smaller particals so as when the water is heated and scale would normally form, because of the change in their molecular structure, they form a slight soft scale that is
easilly washed or wiped away.
The scale is still in the water, your kettle will still scale
up, albiet not as much and you you still see the tell tale signs of limescale on the glass shower enclosure and on the stainless
steel draining board.
Where as with an ion exchange water softener, the calcium and magnesium ions are removed.
Water softening is the only effective way of removing the
calcium and magnesium that causes limescale from the water
and I would not want to be without mine.
I live in Kent, the water is extreemly hard and I had my water
softener fitted some years ago and my shower, kitchen, washing
machine still looks like new.
The machine I purchased is of the Aquadial brand, and it was money well worth spent.
Having heard of people who spend £300 + on water conditioners,
for a bit extra, go and buy a water softener.
I can assure you all the electronic conditioners do work. We introduced the first one, Scalewatcher to
the world in 1989. We gave the domestic business to Fast Systems who sell 18,000 units per year all
with a 6months performance guarantee, they have 2% return rate
We concentrate on commercial and industrial market and our largest customer is M.O.D. / Government
(25% of our turnover), who will not continue to buy something that does not work.
Check out our website http://www.electronicdescaler.com
Positioning and installation are the only reasons a well designed electronic conditioner does not work
How about this for a thought: these systems have been around for many years now, if they really worked don’t you think the water company would recommend them or even incorporate them at the source? Think about that for a moment, because that is “common sense” speaking. There is no conspiracy to keep your kettle caked-up.
I’m really glad I stumbled on this web site; thanks Rich, good idea by the way. The report from the US Army Corps of Engineers was a really good find too, and the conclusion is unequivocal: there simply is no benefit from the device, no matter who made it.
It makes no difference what these people claim, “but mine is newer!” or “but you didn’t put it in the right place!” or whatever. Buy a softener if you have a problem, that is what works.
I have written before but all I can tell you is that I have been making and selling our Little Plumber range of water conditioners for 10 years plus and to date we have had nothing but 100% success. Not one back. Not one moan or winge.
We do however offer a 100 day money back guarantee which anyone buying this type of unit must have.
These products will pay for themselves within the first year of use because of the energy they save. They not only prevent limescale but also remove it so making heat exchange much more efficient.
We are always available to advise whch unit you should have since if you have a VENTED plumbing system ie: one with a tank in the loft you will need TWO units since there is a gap in the treatment at the point where the water falls into the tank. One of our units has two coils which can be used and generally fits conveniently in the airing cupboard. If you have an UNVENTED system with a Combi Boiler you’ll only need one unit.
We even have a battery operated model if your electrical point is miles away.
I mean if they didn’t work why would we still be selling them after 10 years???
I’m on 01235 862540
I have an electronic conditioner installed, yet my new kettle is still full of fur and my black granite sink still gets a cloudy coating of chalk. The only evidence I can see (daily) about electronic water softeners is that they’re ineffective.
What I hope to see see is the results from a set of repeatable laboratory tests that are independently funded which show the comparative effectiveness of different solutions water softening solutions.
Anecdotal evidence is not enough when I’m staring at a sink lined with chalk!
Thanks for this useful correspondence. I was about to purchase a scalewatcher which I can ill afford (having had a new element in my hit water cylinder for the secnd time in 3 years). Hurray for internet sharing – it’s saved me £200!
My mom sent me on a mission about 3 hours ago to research “saltless” water softeners; since our’s is broken and is about 20 years old. Anyways, This site takes the cake for having the most information (anecdotal or otherwise) and I’m pretty convinced that the best option for us is to simply update our water softener. The magnetic versions are just too controversial.
I suggest to all the sellers chatting it up here that if they really want to put credence into their products, then they need to fund some peer-reviewed, thorough and independent research on their products. Just spewing the same “we have a money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose” lines don’t cut it.
Thanks for the discussion it was quite useful.
Thanks for starting the discussion. While investigating I found the following goverment web site about his subject. I hope it helps.
http://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumer/faq/hardness.htm#7
I live in Cape Town South Africa. We are fortunate to have extremely soft water. There is never any
sign of scaling in our kettles,toilets,showers etc
yet somehow or other the water pipes in the roof
are clogged by some deposit or other. Although
they are 30 years old I cannot imagine where the
deposit is coming from. The plumber assures me it
is not from my asbestos cement cold water tanks
and they show no signs of corrosion. The plumber
can offer no suggestions on how to clear the pipes
and replacing is not really an option as many are
buried in the walls. I thought that these electroni
gadgets would solve my problems but reading this
site they do not appear to be a solution.
Could these deposits be something other than
Calcium?
As an aside would a good test for the efficiency
of a descaler not be the ease with which soap will
lather and the degree of scum in your bath.
I am the business development manager for a commercial / industrial electromagnetic water conditioning unit and water softening company. WE DO NOT PROMOTE OR SELL DOMESTIC APPLIANCES. The science is pretty clear on magnetic effect in water, only the water that passes the magnetic field at 90degrees gives a conditioning effect, see Flemings left hand rule, Columbs law, Dayby radius. The small domestic wrappers will give a very little effect (if any), for best results they need to be as close as possible to the point of use.
Water softeners physically exchange the hardness particulates for sodium, in the UK you are not allowed to drink softened water.But if you soften water you will not get scale build up if you maintain the unit correctly.
Our industrial electromagnetic conditioners are capable of treating a hotel, leisure centre etc. but obviously cost far more than domestic units.
Jim mentions an effect called reverse solubility, where when you heat water up the hardness minerals come out of solution, this is the opposite effect of putting sugar in your tea. The greater the temperature the quicker the hardness particles drop out of solution and form scale.
The downside to lower temperature is bacteria control, in building services you are not allowed to distribute hot water at less than 60 degrees centigrade due to the threat of legionella. Obviously these systems are much larger with greater water useage, but i still keep my hot water at 60 at home to be sure.
I purchased a Water King device a number of years ago from life science. It has stopped buildup of limescale in the hot water tank. This was proved when I had to change the tank after a number of years due to a leak and found it very clean. the previous tank to that was full of limescale and had to be replaced. Also the kettle never furs up but does have small white particle floating about, (a type of calcium?) this is only obvious as the kettle spout has a filter. No buildup on the element and this is used at least twice a day! We live near Cambridge which has very hard water. I think they work but make sure you follow the instructions! Doesnt soften the water but the limesacle not depositing is great especially in the shower head.
Those people said that it worked: testimonials
Thanks Emily; on that page Roger Bisby (apparently he’s a plumber/journalist) says “Tests show that as little as 3 millimetres of scale can increase fuel costs by 15%”, so I have to ask which tests? Where are the results published? Have the tests been repeated and independently verified? Are the test methods open to scientific analysis and criticism? Without these things, Mr. Bisby’s words are a pointless and hollow endorsement. It’s an advert, pure and simple; it needs to back up its claims, but doesn’t. If it had that information, then it’s exactly the kind of stuff I want to find.
Paul Websters friend speaks with forked tongue. This “..engineering friend of 30 years standing who works in the production of water features and who now has the distribution rights on the CEPI system in the UK..” claimed that the CEPI Magnetic Conditioner produced by a Belgian company Vero Magnetics is mandatory in Belgian households. Mandatory? I live in Belgium and my house doesn’t have such a system! (although our water is very hard). I don’t know anybody else who does own such a system. I found some old references on the web to a company called CERO-CO NV at Borgerhout near Antwerp but couldn’t find web page for the company. An umdated literature review at web page http://www.discoverymagnets.co.uk/articles-water12.htm (produced by the UK distributor of Ecoflow Bioflow magnetic devices) says that most of CEPI-COs equipment sales are for continuously recirculating industrial cooling systems where there is repeated treatment of process water. Best results are under conditions of supersaturation and a high ionic load of the process water – which doesn’t sound like household water conditions to me.
Ny impression is these guys who sell these electronic or magnetic systems seem to reappear/morph in different forms regularly. Today, for example, I got an advertisement in the post for a magnetic water softener/conditioner called a MAGNA 2000 marketed by TSD, Antwerp which claims wonderful results with no running costs (it uses a permanent magnet). See web page http://www.antikalk.be. I asked my plumber and his opinion was that these things are nearly always hokum. He did say that there is one non-chemical system produced by a well-known German manufacturer which he has heard good reports about. But it is very expensive system. I’d be cheaper buying a classical chemical based water softener.