Living in a very hard water area we get through no end of kettles and irons due to scale. Had to change a 18 month old leccy shower today for same reason. I have read about putting magnets on water feed in to house to alter molecular structure of the minerals to restrict build up of scale.
Is this a gimmick or does it actually work has anyone got any experience of using magnets?
Been around for years along with electrical versions and inline filters
I guess they should work do to being out for over 20 years that I can recall
Never heard of them before only when I googled today. For sake of Ã,£15 got to be worth a shot as water round here is terrible.
Can't really comment on the magnet system but have been a water softener user for 35 years, was already installed in our house when we moved in.
This was an electric timer unit using bulk salt at the rate of 50kg per 3 months
This unit has now become unserviceable after 40 years of use and after consideration have invested in the new electric less block salt system
Link (https://www.harveywatersofteners.co.uk/?hm_campaign=ws_harveywatersofteners&gclid=CjwKEAjw2PK7BRDPz5nDh9GjoGcSJAAybcS31raMMWQEUwdlPlrmzkm8jPoRiWfHHQ9ZlTt0sX-0oBoCHxPw_wcB&k_rtapid=p.418.f428d442-1937-46c8-a551-671dbf6fea58.kw7040)
I know this seems expensive but find it an essential part of the house as the water here is also disgusting to wash and bath in, wouldn't be without it.
Thanks for the link.
So with the softener system is it just a case of once installed you put block salt in and there is no other maintainance?
That's right.
The good thing about these new ones is they only regenerate (use salt) when water is used, on the old timer system you usually set it to regenerate every two or three days (depends on how much water you use) which is fine until your away from home for a few days, the system would regenerate even when it didn't need to, OK you could turn the timer off to stop this happening but then forget to turn it back on when you return.
Another bonus is the M2 Minimax is it's half the size of the old permutit softener and can fit in a cupboard under the sink or even outside if you don't have the room.
there are cheaper models than the Harvey M2 out there still using the old system, I recommend get the best you can afford but the M2 in my opinion is ideal for a Family home.
I have just been looking at them and there are som many different types, good point about the timer ones I didn't even think about that which kind of proves I would forget to turn it back on!
I will have to do some research in to which will be best in the long run.
Thanks
I couldn't see the cost on their website, how much is this and how much are the salt blocks?
I couldn't see cost on website either but I did a bit of searching and it looks like it's about a grand for the softener plus Ã,£250 ish installation,not sure if you can DIY install?
Salt blocks Ã,£110 for 21 8kg blocks.
theres a popular one called EDDY
http://www.eddy.uk.com lots of stuff on web money back gaurantee, costs about Ã,£100 thye say try for 12 months.
its a box with 2 long wires that you wrap round the cold inlet . i had one since last November on trial as we in very hard area. at moment must admit it seems crap
think it will be going back !
Those who live in hard water areas have a statistically lower chance of dying from a heart attack.....
(The magnets and other non-invasive devices are utter bolleaux)
As I am ripping kitchen out soon I held off with water softener until then,as interim measure I thought for Ã,£15 would give magnets a try.
Although it has only been just over a week so still early days it seems to be doing something.
4 magnets on inlet pipe and so far no scale marks on shower enclosure like normal and no build up starting in kettle.
Time will tell but they are having an effect.
As you say for Ã,£15 it's worth a try.
Have just come back from a long weekend away at Hayling Island and although we love the place and holiday there a few times a year it's nice to get back home to soft water.
Be nice to have proper soft water once the kitchen is done, having a change round so decided not worth chopping pipes for softener until sink is moved.