LIMESCALE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mike

What a useful site! I hope you can help.

I live in a property barely a year old and over the last few months the pressure from all my hot taps had depleated to barely a trickle. The plumber who fixed the problem explained that the Heat Exchanger was so blocked with Limescale that the water just wasnt able to get through. He said that this was the worst he had seen especially in a boiler only a year old! He also said that this type of boiler is usually fitted with a componant that prevents limescale build up but for some reason the Pulsacoil A Class doesnt have this.

I live in a very hard water area so unless there is anyway I can prevent it, this problem is surely going to occur again in another years time! Do you know if ther is any way that my boiler can be modified to prevent such bad limescale building up over time or if not anything I can do myself to stop it from happening? Paying for a new Heat Exchanger every 12 months seems ludicrus.

Many thanks, Gemma

Hi Gemma,

The only certain way of preventing this is to fit a water softener (one you put salt into). This is a surefire, certain fix.

There are also 'water conditioners', and Gledhill supply them as an accessory when the unit is being fitted in a hard water area. (I suspect you don't have one because your builder wouldn't pay extra for them though!) There are various brands of electronic conditioner you can fit which will reduce the problem but may not stop it altogether. I often change heat exchangers where conditioners are already fitted. I recommend fitting a proper softener.

Cheers, Mike

Hello!

I know I'm replying to an old post, but I'm sure limescale is not an issue that goes away!

I got a new boiler a year ago (a nextgen 180) and I'm wondering what steps I can take to prevent limescale build up. Does anyone know how to check whether a water conditioner has already been fitted on installation? When topping up the thermal store, is it OK to use tap water, or should that water be de-limed?

Thanks!