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limescale

Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit, consisting mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It often builds up inside kettles, boilers, and pipework, especially that for hot water. It is also often found as a similar deposit on the inner surfaces of old pipes and other surfaces where "hard water" has flowed. Limescale also forms as travertine or tufa in hard water springs.
The color varies from off-white through a range of greys and pink or reddish browns, depending on the other minerals present. Iron compounds give the reddish-browns.
In addition to being unsightly and hard to clean, limescale can seriously damage or impair the operation of various plumbing and heating components. Descaling agents are commonly used to remove limescale. Prevention of fouling by scale build-up relies on the technologies of water softening or other water treatment.

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  1. D

    Limescale cleaner for central heating

    Hi Where I am living the water is very hard. The result is my heat exchanger most likely has accumulated limestone. The problem is that due to the limestone accumulation the boiler is cutting out at high temperature, thus not having the possibility to transfer enough heat to the radiators. Is...
  2. S

    USA Can remove limescale from unvented direct cylinder (center store)

    I have an unvented direct cylinder from centerstore to use it only for hot water CenterStore direct unvented cylinder 120ltr | Wolseley - https://www.wolseley.co.uk/product/centerstore-direct-unvented-cylinder-120-ltr/ but with two immersion heaters. I had it the cylinder working fine for 4-5...
  3. J

    Water softener for mains supply

    Hi all, as the title says, few months ago moved into a house where the water is way harder than expected. We did not expect it because we lived in this area previously and did not have issues with the water back then, even though it's the same mains water supplier. I have done a test strip for...
  4. 0

    Limescale in pipes

    Hi. I have had a significant build up of limescale in the pipes taking old water from the shower / bathroom sink and sewage from the toilet. This has been clearer by plumbers using a Picote and directly accessing the pipes externally. The drainage engineer said that now that the limescale has...
  5. Stants

    Limescale build up on Cylinder hard water area

    Hi I'm going to have a cylinder replaced because its failing there seems to be a lot of limescale build up i have heard of inhibitors liquid form but also heard you get electronic ones that emit a frequency ? are they hard to fit and do they work Cheers
  6. S

    Identifying limescale in a hot water cylinder?

    Hi there, I have a 20 year old hot water cylinder, which is heated from an oil boiler (aga), and has an electric immersion element as well. I don't get much hot water out of the system before it turns cold, and I've been told it might be limescaled up and need replacing. I installed 4...
  7. W

    Recommendations to stop limescale

    Hello there I live in a very hard water area I need some help to what I can use to prevent limescale build up etc. I looked around so many on the market and also mixed messages. I live in a one bedroom ground floor flat with wet room and toilet etc. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank...
  8. T

    URGENT Tap covered in Limescale and salt

    Right guys I know this is a tundish but.... I don’t know what’s going on here I can never catch it in the act of leaking or dripping and it’s not loads but there’s always a little bit of water at the bottom of the unit and as you can see a Rubbish load of limescale! Can I just clean this off or...
  9. K

    Large limescale deposits

    When I bought my house 12 years ago there was a Scalemaster electrolytic inhibitor installed. Over the last few years the quality of the water (most noticeable in the kettle) has gotten worse so 6 months ago I replaced the Scalemaster and at the same time replaced my 5 year old dishwasher...
  10. BWTUK

    BWT - Nice to meet you!

    Dear members of Plumbersforums, We are BWT UK, and as some of you may already know, we are a water treatment solutions manufacturer for domestic, business and commercial environments. Nice to meet you! There are so many awesome installers on this forum that we think it’s important to create a...
  11. R

    Stubborn Toilet Deposit

    Hi All, Had a badly limestone scaled toilet - especially and under the rim. Removed most with Killrock and Spirit of Salts no problem. Now left with a very hard rough thin pale grey deposit between the holes and the inside edge of the rim which I cant shift. Any suggestions on what it is...
  12. P

    MegaFlo again. Pressure loss

    Hi there - I am convinced that my 25 yr old Megaflo is providing less hot water pressure than it used to. I have reset the bubble several times but it doesn't seem to help. But the shower pressure is not bad and I can live with it. But then yesterday I got up earlier than usual (before the HW...
  13. S

    Limescale prevention

    Does anyone have experience of limescale prevention systems that actually work without breaking the bank. My area has hard water and having tried electrical units at a £90 cost previously and thrown them away as I could see no difference I am looking for something that works to prevent scale...
  14. Bogart

    Limescale filter needed

    I would like to fit a whole house filter that removes limescale and the gunge, whatever it is , that forms a scum on the top every time I make a cup of tea. I do not want a salt softener, just binned my last one, as the bugs in my sewage treatment plant do not like salt. Thinking along the lines...
  15. Eyespy999

    Limescale prevention and inline strainer on cold feed

    Evening all, I have been to a job this evening where several of the themostatic shower valves have seized and there is evidence of limescale everywhere. The house is a new build, a few years old and the plumbing is pretty shoddy in places. Question, does anyone have a reccmendation of an...
  16. A

    Limescale on element but not on thermostat housing

    I have a direct unvented water cylinder and recently needed a new element due to horrific limescale, I have a scale manager fitted and the suppliers tell me that if it wasn't doing it's job correctly the 2 tubes either side of the element (which I assume to be thermostat housings) would also be...
  17. W

    Combimate help please

    Hi there, I am replacing an elderly oil fired combi boiler and the plumber has said that I need a Combimate to protect the hot water plate heat exchanger to go with it but they are about £180! Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative please. I see Fernox do a lime scale reducer for about £40...
  18. D

    Inline limescale inhibitors ??!!

    Hello Please can you help me. My system currently has a salamander inline scale inhibitor (15mm) installed on the mains cold water inlet, this feeds the whole house system, its probably been there for at least 5-7 yrs. The level of limescale deposited on the appliances/shower is currently...
  19. D

    Concealed valves and limescale

    Hi, I'm having a bathroom fitted as part of a refurb. I've bought concealed valves, shower rose, bath filler etc. However, the builder is strongly recommending against using them, saying that, as it's a hard water area, there would be problems and he won't guarantee the work. Is limescale really...
  20. C

    Leaking Limescale Remover

    I have a LIFF lime scale remover fitted to my cold water pipe under the kitchen sink - just before it feeds into the boiler. This lime scale remover is leaking, I'm not sure if it's leaking at the connectors or from the unit itself. It's only dripping, it's not gushing out. I'm also having...
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