Water softness for copper boilers

This topic has 13 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 25 April 2016 at 20:28 by Ron Hancock.

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21 April 2016 at 17:49 #235614
Ron Hancock
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@ronhancock63652
Hi just finished building my Black 5 now ready to run it.

I live in a hard water area so wondering if water softener salt would help.

I have seen it advertised on eBay 25 kg bags would this work or is it better just to add white vinegar.

I have also heard after running fill with cola will also clean.

any info would be great full please

ron
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21 April 2016 at 17:49 #1517
Ron Hancock
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@ronhancock63652
21 April 2016 at 17:56 #235616
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Get some proper water treatment which will help stop scale forming . The "TC" is the one for copper boilers
21 April 2016 at 17:58 #235617
Ron Hancock
Participant
@ronhancock63652
Is it just caller TC sorry I am a novice

Ron
21 April 2016 at 18:00 #235618
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Click on the bold water treatment in my post above and it will take you to as seller of "Multitreat TC"
21 April 2016 at 22:00 #235647
Phil Whitley
Participant
@philwhitley94135
Use filtered rainwater, about as soft as you can get, and ever so slightly acid.
21 April 2016 at 23:12 #235658
julian atkins
Participant
@julianatkins58923
Hi Ron,

Dont worry at the moment.

I will do a search online re your water quality for your area. I am quite sure you wont have the problems in parts of the south of england with hard water, which I was used to for many years.

Cheers,

Julian
22 April 2016 at 00:11 #235667
DMB
Participant
@dmb
Yes Julian, Brighton’s water is very hard – pumped out of South Downs having filtered through the chalk hills. Tastes better than London’s regurgitated sewage.
John.
22 April 2016 at 13:36 #235740
John Fielding
Participant
@johnfielding34086
Hi Ron,

As luck would have it I was reading some old ME magazines last night and there is a very good article on this subject.

Take a look at ME Vol 209, No 4438, 7-20 September 2012 for an article by Brian Baker called "Water Water". Everything you have always wanted to know, but where too scared to ask!

If you can't locate a copy then I can scan and send if you PM me with your email address.
22 April 2016 at 13:52 #235744
Roderick Jenkins
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@roderickjenkins93242
Posted by Ron Hancock on 21/04/2016 17:49:47:

I live in a hard water area so wondering if water softener salt would help.

Just to clear up any possible misconception: Water softener salt (normal NaCl) is used to regenerate an ion-exchange water softening system as often fitted to e.g. dishwashers. It is not added directly to the water to soften it.

HTH,

Rod
22 April 2016 at 14:57 #235751
Bob Brown 1
Participant
@bobbrown1
While on this subject would reverse osmosis filter work?
25 April 2016 at 20:03 #236196
Ron Hancock
Participant
@ronhancock63652
Failed to steam again Sunday the screw fitting that goes into tube plate started leaking. I had sealed with Loctite worked fine at home but second steam at the club it failed. I could not beleive how it failed after steaming so well at home.

Back to drawing board try again

Ron
25 April 2016 at 20:25 #236201
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Try boss white. Cheap as chips from B&Q.

"Boss White Jointing Compound is a non-toxic compound for sealing threaded joints on non-drinking water pipes. Suitable for hot and cold water and low pressure steam up to 7 bar."

OK, that's only 100psi, but its what LBSC always used.

Neil
25 April 2016 at 20:28 #236202
Ron Hancock
Participant
@ronhancock63652
Thank you Neil I will get some tomorrow and try it

Ron
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