Hi All.

Once again I'd like to tap into the wealth of knowedge on this site please.

The problem.

I live in a very hard water area so I have to replace shower heads every 3 months, shower units every 3 years,
de-scale the kettle every 2 weeks, but worst of all, scum on my tea.

The posible solution.

I can't afford the 5 to 6 hundred pounds for a full blown salts system so I wondered what the cartridge filters are like.
Anyone use them or can offer advice?

I'm thinking of fitting then as in the pic below. (particulate filter, polyphosphate de-scaler and carbon drinking water filter)
These are made by Culligan and sold by Screwfix but I'm open to sugestions. I think I could fit these for £140 ish.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Cheers
Paul G


water flow diagram

They are really only good for say one tap for drinking water.
The volume of water going through one of those for an entire house will quickly use it up.
The salt system is your best option

We probably have similar water at out house.

I just ordered a water softner from Plumbworld which will solve the problem all around the house.

At our last house I installed a Brita water filter tap (charchoal filter I think) which helped with the nastry tasting tea with scum on top problem.

David

Dont forget you need to protect the feed serving the hot water side otherwise you will build up limescale inside your cylinder and boiler, it is the hot water that gets effected most.

Also you need to protect your white goods - washing machine, dishwashers etc

quote:

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Originally posted by big-vee-twin
Dont forget you need to protect the feed serving the hot water side otherwise you will build up limescale inside your cylinder and boiler, it is the hot water that gets effected most.

Also you need to protect your white goods - washing machine, dishwashers etc

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I think the biggest issue with trying to control the scale in an entire house is making sure you can still get a good flow rate... no use only being able to draw off a few litres an hour if you want to shower/washingmachine etc

I have no idea how good these are, if they work or might as well be Snake Oil but there only on offer until tomorrow!

Maplin Descaler

The Plumbing company I work for has just fitted something similar to a Commercial Business at the request of the Catering contractors for the dishwashers so they may be some use.

quote:

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Originally posted by MkIndy7
I have no idea how good these are, if they work or might as well be Snake Oil but there only on offer until tomorrow!

Maplin Descaler

The Plumbing company I work for has just fitted something similar to a Commercial Business at the request of the Catering contractors for the dishwashers so they may be some use.

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Thanks for all the replies chaps.

Looks like I might go for just the drinking water tap then.
At least I'll be able to have a decent cuppa while I replace the shower.


As a matter of interest, what's the running cost of a salt system?

Cheers
Paul G

p.s. Fancy the BBQ meet David?

careful with the salt systems, they can cause corrosion of your copper pipework as the protective patina on the inside of the pipework relies on there being calcium carbonate in the water. A 50% mix of softened and hard water would stop excessive furring and eliminate the rsik of corrosion, plus might save you some money in salt!