Can you service your boiler with softer water supply
Can you service your boiler with softer water supply
There are many optional products that are available to add to your heating system to keep it running on a regular basis, and there are others that you can install and let them do the work for you day by day. Regardless, a central heating systems that’s given proper care will work for you smoothly. Environmental agencies and local authorities constantly advise us to economise our carbon footprint by switching off unneeded lights and electric devices and by setting our thermostats at lower temperatures. These environmentally conscious steps not only save the greenery on our planet, but also save the pound notes in our wallet. But how about making your central heating system operate more effectively? The accumulation of sludge and limescale deposits in your central heating system will reduce its efficiency.
To stop the build up of limescale and gunk in your system particularly in hard water areas, then you need to take a look at water treatment.
Water treatment is a term used to cover many different ways of looking after your system. gunk extractors, limescale inhibitors, electronic and magnetic lime reducers, anti-freeze compounds and noise reducing agents are some of the extensive water treatment products sold in the market today.
Living in the UK means that depending on whereabouts you are in the country, your water can range from hard to soft. Limescale deposits are common in areas that get hard water, and these deposits are first seen on kettles, taps and shower heads. Heating bills grow as a result of efficiency reduction caused by limescale. The energy cost in a boiler cylinder with limescale lining can be 40 percent more than a clean boiler leading to more expensive energy bills. When calcium carbonate precipitates out of the hard water, it forms limescale inside the boiler. These problems are not seen in areas that get soft water, however in case of any doubt one should always seek advice.
Most water treatments act by altering the molecular structure of the water and the particles therein and changing the way it behaves. One way of modification is to convert a structure completely to another, another is to take out the mischievous component, and yet another way is to prevent the structure from becoming solid, thus leaving its normal process unrealized.
There are chemical test kits which will measure the ph and chloride levels and also the iron and copper levels so that you can measure the probable corrosion potential and rate.
Your system must be installed by a professional, never connect brass or copper to aluminum as this can lead to corrosion through the interaction of these metals. You must get your gas connections done by a person registered with CORGI as the law requires this.
Always plan before getting the new system installed; for instance, you should know what water treatment method should be used. It would be a good idea to completely flush your whole system before adding any water treatments.
Heating systems take water from the mains water supply and there are various systems that you can attach to your mains supply to deal with hard water problems, however, it is worth noting that systems that are put in to soften water in your home are only for household use and will do nothing for your central heating system problems. These water softening chemicals can produce better lather and are good for your skin, but they cannot reverse the choking and pitting inside the heating system.
The three main things that you need to prevent are corrosion, limescale and biological growth.
Corrosion can begin immediately after the water starts to fill up the system from the main source after installation. Corrosion produces sludge and this prevents free circulation, this can eventually lead to formation of cold spots on radiators. Gradual pitting can perforate the metal piping, causing the boiler or radiators to rattle.
Hard water contains magnesium and calcium and these minerals deposit as limescale in the system. Deposits of these minerals leave hard crusts in the system when the water is heated. This again can manifest itself with a noisy heating system.
Biological growth inside the system is another hazard that must be prevented. They gets into the heating system through open tanks. The biological growth advances rapidly in the form of a slimy lining. This material can really make your system under perform by clogging up the pipework.
There is a lot of free advice on the internet. Take some time to look through this. Lets first have a look at the manufacturers. This site contains a list of manufacturers, and the products that they produce and sell to help maintain your central heating. Besides inquiring for information with company sources, you should also read opinions on specialised blogs.
All the best with your water treatment, let energy conserving central heating and hot water with lower home bills rule.