Filling a system with softened water???

[bobb]

Has any ever heard that you should not fill a central heating system with softened water. I was told if you install a Worcester it has to be hard water.

 

[paulnwales]

yep, you cant put a water softner on most worcesters, invalidates the warranty.

 

[bobb]

Thanks Paulnwales, Do you know why?

 

[gpbeck]

Softened water has Sodium which has replaced the Calcium. The sodium corrodes aluminium heat exchangers.

 

[paulnwales]

its to do with the salt thats used, it ruins some heat exchangers

 

[GQuigley67]

we have soft water in scotland so what we supposed to do ?

 

[gpbeck]

Naturally soft water has little Calcium, has not been softened artificially and so contains no Sodium

 

[FD Powerflow]

Naturally softened water is fine for use in a Worcester provided the system is protected with a decent inhibitor WAI scheme only recommends Fernox and Sentinel, artificially softened water as mentioned above is usually in the form of a Ion exchange unit which would swap Calcium for Sodium which is aggressive against aluminium due to the pH change in the water which dissolves the aluminium oxide film that normally keeps aluminium protected against corrosion.

If you have a high level of flux in your system this will also dissolve an aluminium heat exchanger because one of the main components in a self cleaning flux is chloride. Hence why Laco now state on their tubs that you cant use their flux on systems containing aluminium of stainless steel.

 

[That Extra Mile]

I've spoken to Worcester-Bosch about this in the past and the problem is water artificially softened with salt. As has been mentioned this can damage aluminium heat exchanges.  Naturally occurring soft water isn't an issue.  It's also fine to use water conditioners such as the Fernox Scale Reducer if you have a need to.  Jonathan, That Extra Mile Plumbing, London.

 

[xsjadofred]

guessing you can just bypass the softener to fill system?? just gotta make sure the customer knows how to do it aswell when topping up the pressure?