Can you assist your boiler with softer water supply
Can you assist your boiler with softer water supply
There are several products that serve as auxiliary items for your central heating system so that it functions normally, and then there are those that work independently to give you the service you want. In either case, your system will be well-prepared to work efficiently if you take the time to maintain it. It is now well known, thanks to advice given by governments and environmental organisations, that we should save energy wherever possible by turning off lights, washing clothes at lower temperatures, switching televisions off and turning down thermostats. These energy saving tips are not only good for the environment, but also great for keeping your bills down at times of high energy prices. But, how will you make sure that your central heating system works efficiently? As the layers of sludge and limescale starts piling up, the efficiency of the system starts dwindling increasing your energy costs.
It usually happens in areas where hard water is present, you can go for water treatment to avoid these deposits.
Water treatment refers to several aspects of taking care of your central heating system. A wide range of water treatment products including scale reducers and inhibitors, magnetic and electronic lime fighters, gunk removers, noise reducers and anti-freeze are available.
The UK has water types ranging from hard to soft based on the region where you live. Living in a hard water area means that you are prone to limescale your kettle probably being the first place that you will notice limescale deposits as well as on your showerhead and taps. Limescale reduces efficiency and adds to heating bills. Your fuel bills can increase by 40% even with small deposits of limescale in your cylinder. When calcium carbonate precipitates out of the hard water, it forms limescale inside the boiler. Soft water which contains less calcium salts is less prone to this scale formation, however it is advisable to test the water and take precautions.
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.
If you want to determine the corrosion rate inside your heating system, you can do so by using these chemical kits which measure the chloride, copper and iron levels and measure the pH.
To begin with, you should make certain that your system has been assembled by a qualified individual, for example it’s important to have the simple knowledge that connecting aluminum and copper or brass triggers a corrosive reaction because that’s what happens when different metals are joined. Every gas connection should be carried out by a CORGI, Gas Safe, registered professional.
You should decide about the water treatment well in advance, especially when you are installing a new heating system. If you are updating your existing system you would be looking at flushing the whole system before adding any water treatment solutions.
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 solutions can make detergent and soaps to lather effortlessly, but they will not be able to help the heating system to work efficiently.
Corrosion, limescale and biological growth are the three prominent things you need to stop.
Corrosion can begin immediately after the water starts to fill up the system from the main source after installation. Corrosion produces gunk and this prevents free circulation, this can eventually lead to formation of cold spots on radiators. Pinholes can appear in the radiators and if untreated the boiler can start making noises.
In hard water areas the calcium and magnesium in the water causes limescale. When the water is heated, these minerals deposit, forming a hard crust that grows with time and blocks the pipes. Limescale can again make the gas central heating system noisy.
The next problem to deal with is the biological growth. The growth enters the system through open tanks in certain types of heating system. The biological growth advances rapidly in the form of a slimy lining. If the growth occurs in pipework, it can decrease the efficacy of the entire system.
Various forums and websites provide useful information on water treatment. Take out time to go through a few pages of free advice. We recommend starting with the manufacturers themselves. You can find a list manufacturers and the popular items they carry in this site. Besides inquiring for information with company sources, you should also read opinions on specialised blogs.
All the best with your treatment and let’s hope you can get your heating systems working as expeditiously as possible to save you some hard cash.