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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> magnetic scale reducer covered up? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1320416674 Message started by birty on Nov 4^th, 2011, 2:24pm

Title: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by birty on Nov 4^th, 2011, 2:24pm

Hi all
Have an inline 15mm magnetic scale reducer from PTS' tradesave' fitted to mains water in too boiler. Its just above the boiler (baxi duo tec combi) and need to box in the pipework. Should this gizmo be replaced on a regular basis or can it be boxed in and forgot about??
Suggestions please?? :-?

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by thescruff on Nov 4^th, 2011, 4:04pm

Make and model is.

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by CWatters on Nov 4^th, 2011, 9:08pm

Some would suggest taking it off and getting your money back :-)

There have been very few proper scientific studies on the effectiveness of magnetic water softners. As far as I can tell there is no scientific reason to think magnets might work let alone really good evidence they do...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_water_treatment

Quote:

Most scientific studies[6] do not support these claims and suggest that magnetic water treatment may be ineffective. Certainly many, perhaps most claims for small domestic apparatus may be pseudoscientific because the magnetic field, if it works at all, would have to be very powerful, and this high flux is not easily achieved in a small space.

Quote:

Scientific and engineering studies generally refute the effectiveness of the method, finding no differences not attributable to other causes between systems with and without a magnetic water treatment device, and no theoretical basis to expect that there might be. Vendors frequently use pictures and testimonials to support their claims, but omit quantitative detail and well-controlled studies.

The only exception to this is the use of magnets to remove sludge from central heating systems. There is a scientific reason why they might work in that application and that's because some of ithe sludge is "rust" from the inside of iron/steel rads.

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by birty on Nov 6^th, 2011, 5:56pm

Make-Only label on there is as i said above..
Was thinking about a full blown softner at intake but unsure which one..Are they expensive to run- ie change the stuff inside them???
But the question still stands- can i leave it in and cover it up???

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by thescruff on Nov 6^th, 2011, 9:19pm

If it's just the clip on thing then just cover it up it, doesn't do anything..

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by CWatters on Nov 7^th, 2011, 8:57am

birty wrote on Nov 6^th, 2011, 5:56pm:

Was thinking about a full blown softner at intake but unsure which one..Are they expensive to run- ie change the stuff inside them???

They use salt in the process and it might be necessary replumb so that unsoftened water is still available at the kitchen sink.

Running costs are quoted here as 15-30p a day depending on the hardness of the water and volume used.

http://www.uk-water-softeners.co.uk/why-upgrade-your-water-softener/running-costs

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by birty on Nov 7^th, 2011, 6:30pm

Its an inline sealed unit- not a clip on one... No wires- nowt!! Just an inline cylinder about 20mm diameter and 150mm long.. (Wish i could post a pic but looks a bit complicated-Doh)

Whats the reason for still requiring hard water at the kitchen sink??

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by thescruff on Nov 7^th, 2011, 11:28pm

It's actually a water reg, and softened water is not good to drink, especially babies.

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by CWatters on Nov 7^th, 2011, 11:28pm

Conventional water softners use salt to remove the calcium and magnesium that causes the water to be hard but this does make the water slightly salty. Not great for making tea or people with a heart condition who need to be on a low sodium diet. So normally the kitchen tap is left hard.

Title: Re: magnetic scale reducer covered up?
Post by birty on Nov 14^th, 2011, 7:38am

Probanly rules out a softener cos difficult to re plumb the kitchen straight off the mains. Cheers for advice once again,,,,