Descaling my unvented water cylinder.

[roguetrader]

This is a glass lined Ariston and the scale gets right up to the immersion element. Maybe 8 or 9 inches.

 

[Hot&Cold]

the scale gets right up to the immersion element

Thats a heck a lot of scale flakes,only had the pleasure of other makes of cylinders here but still plenty of flakes.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

....................................................................You won't get the walls of your cylinder clean by using a descaling solution, but if you can empty any scale build up out which will encrouch on the bottom element it may help.
......................................................

Thanks. What I will do, is work out the volume of the cylinder from the bottom to the lower immersion and inject at least that much descaler. Repeat if necessary until the Fernox indicates no further treatment necessary (it does this by change of colour). I should think that would remove all scale lying in the bottom of the tank, the immersion itself as well and the walls. Why do you say descaler wont clear it from the walls? When I descale my kettle, the whole kettle, including the walls, gets descaled.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

eternaloptimist1 if you have time consider developing a pumped system that will descale the inlet (internal) feed tube as mentioned by Stadan20 this dipped and diffused internal feed pipe is prone to scale build up resulting in poor outlet flow.

Could make you a few £££'s

Once the inlet tube is scaled up, you have a big problem reaching it with a descaler. Regular descaling(whilst the tube still has freedom of flow) ought to ensure that descaler will reach the inside of the tube since it is not blocked.

 

[Hot&Cold]

Once the inlet tube is scaled up, you have a big problem

yes you will,i wont

 

[eternaloptimist1]

yes you will,i wont

How are you gonna avoid this eventuality then?

 

[JohnD]

buy a water softener.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

buy a water softener.

Out of the question. Too high a cost and no space.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

My first house, way back in 1970 had an integral hot/cold water tank. The cold tank was directly above the hot tank separated by a metal plate. The feed to the hot tank was just a hole through this metal floor. This was a vented set up. I dont know if there was an expansion pipe. You descaled it simply by pouring the descaler into the cold water tank and draining the system having shut off the cold feed. Sure the pressure was poor but perfectly adequate to run a bath. You could not get enough head for a decent shower. I think that is what I will revert to when this tank goes. I might even use the existing tank! Uncouple the cold supply and put a cold tank as high as possible in the cupboard and couple its outlet to the inlet of the existing tank. Run a length of expansion pipe into the cold water tank and bobs your uncle. Descaling would be easy peasy. No worries about exploding tanks.
I just looked up and lo and behold found this....http://www.newarkcoppercylinder.co....rs--hot-and-cold-water-storage-cylinders.html

 

[eternaloptimist1]

I would fit a combi mate but others will probs advise not to ,

When you mentioned combi, I thought you meant a combination boiler. Did you mean this sort of a tank?....http://www.newarkcoppercylinder.co....rs--hot-and-cold-water-storage-cylinders.html

 

[Dan Robinson]

No. This http://www.combimate.co.uk/

 

[eternaloptimist1]

No. This http://www.combimate.co.uk/

Thanks. I will look into this.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

The inlet of the cylinder loops upwards , this is where the scale builds up over the years , I’ve come across 6 that blocked up last year

Please can someone clarify:
1. Does the inlet tube actually get scaled up?
2. How can a cold water tube get scale build up on the inside? Is it due to the close proximity of the feed tube to the heater element? (see range tribune specification drawings at https://www.kingspanenviro.com/docs...ibune-installation-instructions.pdf?sfvrsn=12

Is the inflow reduced due to the build up of scale flakes surrounding the orifice ? (several posts here have mentioned scale debris accumulating to a depth of many inches. This would then surround the inlet orifice and impede the inflow from the cold water inlet resulting in poor outflow from the hot taps.)