Core limey

[PaulAH]

Morning all

We've just installed a water softener. Will the newly softened water eventually remove limescale from furred pipes?

My thinking is based on how the the salts got in the water in the first place. 'Soft' rainwater absorbs calcium carbonate etc from the subsoil, making it 'hard'. Shouldn't the same thing happen now in the pipes?

A hardness test on our water reveals 460ppm. That's quite high, isn't it?

Thanks. Paul

 

[oilman]

We've just installed a water softener.

I worked out that was an expensive way to live, so we haven't got one and we still haven't got furred pipes, and we live in a hard water area.

What type of softener is it?

 

[PaulAH]

Normal saline flush machine - a Tapworks model. Too early to say whether it's doing the biz since the cold tank hasn't flushed through yet.

Oh, for not having to take a pin to the shower heads every few weeks.

6.26am, Oilman? Boozers open early down your way

 

[oilman]

A pin in the shower head? Try soaking in citric acid or vinegar for half an hour.
I reckon the siliphos units would do the job, and they're so much cheaper. (more money for the beer).

 

[masona]

(more money for the beer).

Don't tell him that

 

[PaulAH]

Tried the citric acid trick (on kettle) but found you have to use so much of the stuff it's not that economical. Anyway, it's more the bother of having to descale it regularly that makes softened water attractive. And I've already got through one shower-head by boiling the thing accidentally. Came out looking like a Japanese willow.

Siliphos? Now you tell me! Actually the Tapworks was a superb April deal from Ridgeons - about half the cheapest internet price. I would probably not have bought it otherwise.

As for vinegar, that goes down the gullet.

 

[AdamW]

Will the newly softened water eventually remove limescale from furred pipes?

Water's ability to dissolve calcium carbonate decreases as the water temperature increases (hence scale in kettles). So, in cold water pipes your desired effect is more likely.

However, I doubt you would find your pipes defurring because of your water softener. They won't get any worse, but calcium carbonate really isn't that soluble in plain old water. If it was then descaler manufacturers would go out of business!

 

[breezer]

are you SURE that is the right way round, the hotter something is the faster it reacts?

 

[masona]

That what I thought ..........