Magnetic Scale Inhibitor

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Rathilion69

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My magnetic scale inhibitor is coming to the end of its 10 year life and needs replacing. This is attached to the cold feed pipework just before the combi boiler. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone will be able to answer. Should I replace it with another magnetic inhibitor or change it to a electrolytic inhibitor? Or can I leave the old magnetic one in place and add an electronic version to the outside of the pipe. Would leaving the old magnetic inhibitor in place cause problems?


If it is advisable to just replace, which magnetic or electrolytic inhibitor should I go for that will screw into the fittings at either end and sit in place of the old one so that it works out to be the same size.


Thanks
 

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The idea of a magnetic scale inhibitor is to collect the rust (magntite) before it gets to your boiler and begins blocking the narrow passages, so they need to be large enough to allow the flow to be unrestricted and include the ability to clear out the collected magnetite. The item in your photo doesn't seem to be designed to satisfy either need - so I would be suspicious of it having any worthwhile function. I would almost describe it as snake oil.

I would therefore suggest it needs to be replaced with a proper magnetic filter. The proper ones are much larger, include a series of large rare earth magnets and are large enough to collect a considerable amount of magnetite before they need to be emptied. Emptying is a part of the design, so that it can be done without draining the system. You just isolate the unit, remove the magnet, then wait a few minutes for the magnetite to fall to the bottom and then drain it at the bottom.

I the 'electrolytic' unit relies upon 240v mains being available, then during a power loss, all of the collected magnetite will be released into the boiler.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. The magnetic scale inhibitor is connected to the cold feed into the boiler. I have a larger filter connected to the ch inlet.
 
The idea of the magnetic or electrolytic scale inhibitors is that they alter the structure of the calcium carbonate (limescale) crystals as they form which causes them not to stick to the inside of the pipes and components in the boiler. Opinion is divided about whether they actually do anything at all but manufacturers want them fitted so they get fitted. I would leave yours where it is. Its just a magnet and doesn't have a lifespan that I'm aware of.
Harry is talking about something else entirely which I guess you've already worked out.
 
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As above, now we know where it is - just leave it as is. It is not doing any harm, but nor is it likely to be doing any good either IMHO.
 
The magnetic scale inhibitor that I have has a 10 year guarentee on it.

If it is just a magnet why would it have a 10 year life limit on it?
 

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So would I be safe just leaving it on there as it is? There won't be anything inside it that would reduce the flow of the pipe over time?
 
No problem, just leave it - start worry about removing it if and when you are concerned about poor flow.
 
Harry Bloomfield said:
The idea of a magnetic scale inhibitor is to collect the rust (magntite) before it gets to your boiler and begins blocking the narrow passages, so they need to be large enough to allow the flow to be unrestricted and include the ability to clear out the collected magnetite. The item in your photo doesn't seem to be designed to satisfy either need - so I would be suspicious of it having any worthwhile function. I would almost describe it as snake oil.

I would therefore suggest it needs to be replaced with a proper magnetic filter. The proper ones are much larger, include a series of large rare earth magnets and are large enough to collect a considerable amount of magnetite before they need to be emptied. Emptying is a part of the design, so that it can be done without draining the system. You just isolate the unit, remove the magnet, then wait a few minutes for the magnetite to fall to the bottom and then drain it at the bottom.

I the 'electrolytic' unit relies upon 240v mains being available, then during a power loss, all of the collected magnetite will be released into the boiler.
Click to expand...
clearly have not got a clue what the guy is asking or what is in the picture
 
Rathilion69 said:
So would I be safe just leaving it on there as it is? There won't be anything inside it that would reduce the flow of the pipe over time?
Click to expand...
you can leave it but looking at it you have plenty of play to remove it easily .People say about them being snake oil but boiler manufacturers do ask for them so for sake of 20 quid wont do any harm to fit another in its place
 
Do I need to have one of these just before the boiler or could I install something that is just after the stopcock that could serve the whole house? Are these magnetic/electrolytic inhibitors boiler manufacture approved for use away from the boiler or do they recommend to install close to the boiler?

Is another option could be to install a combimate just after the stopcock? Is the combimate any good?
 
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