Scalewatcher

[BayBoy1]

Has anyone used scalewatcher or any similar product for descaling your pipes, its a device you fit onto your incoming water pipe,

[Buenchico]

This guy was not impressed:
http://www.legalspring.com/Articles/uk-legal/2 0040519/900092_Scalewatcher-didnt-w.html

Chris

[ACtheTROLL]

we use the old method - sacrifice a rooster on the third full moon of the new year

[buildersmate]

Its getting the rooster's blood into the pipes that causes the usual trouble though.

You used the term 'descale' - these devices won't do anything to remove any scale that may already be there. The only way to remove scale is to flush through with some chemical agent.
I live in a very hard water area and used one for many years - attached to the mains cold water pipe as it entered the house. This one used a strong permanent magnet - there are similar devices that wrap coils of wire around the pipe but the principle is similar; it doesn't prevent scale but it alters the chemical composition structure of the scale molecules in some way so that it is less likely to stick to showerheads, that water dribble that occurs down the back of the loo etc. It did nothing in the kettle, which furred up in a fortnight, same as before.
5 years ago I forked out and fitted a proper water softener and haven't looked back since.

[carlton23]

A much better and cheaper way to stop `furring` in a kettle is purchase a small wire device which you can get from `Wilkinson`s` or any hardware store and drop it into kettle. When it gets full of lime colledted from the water, just rub it under a running tap to clear it and use again and again. If is still has lime lumps in it soak it in a small amount of white vinegar over night.

[gulliver1]

Thankyou for your answers, don't think I will be doing that.
What about the trigger valve on water heaters, what are they for.

[gulliver1]

thank you buildersmate, what water softening device did you use and was it more expensive....