Hi folks

My traditional salt-eating water softener (protecting a family household
supply) has broken.  I am looking at about 500 to replace it.

I note that a number of suppliers offer electronic water softeners
(sometimes referred to as descalers) which consist of coils of wire
wrapped around your water mains inlet pipe, which are supplied a current
by a small mains-attached box.  The principle is that the crystalline
structure of the "hard" components of the water is altered in such a way
as to prevent it aggregating.

It is claimed that these are just as effective.  They are certainly a
great deal cheaper to buy and run, easier to install, and would seem to
be a no-brainer decision.  But it seems to good to be true.

Has anyone got direct experience of these devices, and advice to offer
on whether they work as advertised?

Thanks in advance :-)

Damian

In message <dge9mr$dsm$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk>, Damian Glasfurd-Brown 
 wrote


> They are certainly a
>great deal cheaper to buy and run,


Has the price of snake oil fallen recently?

-- 
Alan
mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk

Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:
[electronic water softeners]


> ....But it seems to good to be true.
>

If it seems it, it usually is.  Google this group!

> I note that a number of suppliers offer electronic water softeners
> (sometimes referred to as descalers) which consist of coils of wire
> wrapped around your water mains inlet pipe, which are supplied a current
> by a small mains-attached box.


This question comes up about 3 times a day.

They're completely useless, except to provide obscene profits to those who
peddle them.

Christian.

save your money these are a waste of time and money
we live in a very hard water area (new forest)the water is so hard it will 
scale a kettle within a week to a extent the scale build up will flake off 
the sides of the kettle . we fitted a electronic water softener and it made 
no diffence at all
and before anyone says it it was not a cheap version but one costing over 
150 COST PRICE from when i worked at wilts wholesale
"Alan"  wrote in message 
news:yOScPTIw6rKDFwQC@amacleod.clara.co.uk...

> In message <dge9mr$dsm$1@gemini.csx.cam.ac.uk>, Damian Glasfurd-Brown 
>  wrote
>
>> They are certainly a
>>great deal cheaper to buy and run,
>
> Has the price of snake oil fallen recently?
>
> -- 
> Alan
> mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk 

On Fri, 16 Sep 2005 12:19:42 +0100, Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:


> Hi folks
> 
> My traditional salt-eating water softener (protecting a family household
> supply) has broken.  


Err, in what way? Mine is about 20 years old, and I had it overhauled a
couple of years ago. I've also had a new clock, a new set of washers in the
valve chest, and a new resin cyclinder fitted.


> I am looking at about 500 to replace it.
 
> I note that a number of suppliers offer electronic water softeners
> (sometimes referred to as descalers) 


Nooooo! Not again.......


-- 
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

>
> My traditional salt-eating water softener (protecting a family household
> supply) has broken.  I am looking at about 500 to replace it.
>
> I note that a number of suppliers offer electronic water softeners
> (sometimes referred to as descalers) which consist of coils of wire
> wrapped around your water mains inlet pipe, which are supplied a current
> by a small mains-attached box.  The principle is that the crystalline
> structure of the "hard" components of the water is altered in such a way
> as to prevent it aggregating.
>
> It is claimed that these are just as effective.  They are certainly a
> great deal cheaper to buy and run, easier to install, and would seem to
> be a no-brainer decision.  But it seems to good to be true.
>
> Has anyone got direct experience of these devices, and advice to offer
> on whether they work as advertised?
>

Why not get it repaired ? My Dads was 10years old when timer stopped, got 
fixed by local water softnener installer company for about 80.

Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:


> 5. My conclusion FWIW: these devices (if you get the right one) *may* be 
> some aid to the prevention of limescale build-up, but are definitely not 
> a substitute for genuine water softeners.  I will be replacing my old 
> ion-exchange model with a similar unit.


Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the 
"Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove 
virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.


-- 
http://gymratz.co.uk - Best Gym Equipment & Bodybuilding Supplements UK.
http://trade-price-supplements.co.uk - TRADE PRICED SUPPLEMENTS for ALL!
http://fitness-equipment-uk.com - UK's No.1 Fitness Equipment Suppliers.
http://gymratz.co.uk/hot-seat.htm - Live web-cam! (sometimes)

On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:59:44 GMT, "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;)"
 wrote:


>Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:
>
>> 5. My conclusion FWIW: these devices (if you get the right one) *may* be 
>> some aid to the prevention of limescale build-up, but are definitely not 
>> a substitute for genuine water softeners.  I will be replacing my old 
>> ion-exchange model with a similar unit.
>
>Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the 
>"Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove 
>virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.



Oh well.... it must be OK then.


-- 

..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

In message <4RjYe.113040$G8.32067@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, "Pet @ 
www.gymratz.co.uk ;)"  wrote

>Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:
>
>> 5. My conclusion FWIW: these devices (if you get the right one) *may* 
>>be  some aid to the prevention of limescale build-up, but are 
>>definitely not  a substitute for genuine water softeners.  I will be 
>>replacing my old  ion-exchange model with a similar unit.
>
>Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the 
>"Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove 
>virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.
>



31 days before you get results.
QVC only offer a 30 day money back guarantee!

-- 
Alan
mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk

In article <4RjYe.113040$G8.32067@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>,
   "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;)"  wrote:

> Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the 
> "Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove 
> virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.


He's an actor. And not to be trusted. ;-)

-- 
*If you remember the '60s, you weren't really there

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Alan wrote:


> 31 days before you get results.
> QVC only offer a 30 day money back guarantee!


LOL.
:)

-- 
http://gymratz.co.uk - Best Gym Equipment & Bodybuilding Supplements UK.
http://trade-price-supplements.co.uk - TRADE PRICED SUPPLEMENTS for ALL!
http://fitness-equipment-uk.com - UK's No.1 Fitness Equipment Suppliers.
http://gymratz.co.uk/hot-seat.htm - Live web-cam! (sometimes)

"Andy Hall" <andyh@hall.nospam> wrote in message
news:n9n3j193s8q5emjnej89s5pceicva4s77t@4ax.com...

> On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 20:59:44 GMT, "Pet @ www.gymratz.co.uk ;)"
>  wrote:
>
> >Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:
> >
> >> 5. My conclusion FWIW: these devices (if you get the right one) *may*
be
> >> some aid to the prevention of limescale build-up, but are definitely
not
> >> a substitute for genuine water softeners.  I will be replacing my old
> >> ion-exchange model with a similar unit.
> >
> >Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the
> >"Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove
> >virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.
>
>
> Oh well.... it must be OK then.


Mine did, an Aqua Dial.

"Alan"  wrote in message
news:+aQfqvAi5dMDFwgk@amacleod.clara.co.uk...

> In message <4RjYe.113040$G8.32067@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, "Pet @
> www.gymratz.co.uk ;)"  wrote
> >Damian Glasfurd-Brown wrote:
> >
> >> 5. My conclusion FWIW: these devices (if you get the right one) *may*
> >>be  some aid to the prevention of limescale build-up, but are
> >>definitely not  a substitute for genuine water softeners.  I will be
> >>replacing my old  ion-exchange model with a similar unit.
> >
> >Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the
> >"Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove
> >virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.
> >
>
>
> 31 days before you get results.
> QVC only offer a 30 day money back guarantee!


I think Scalewatcher is one year.  Most are a year.

Alan wrote:

>> Well acording to the bloke on QVC or wherever who was selling the 
>> "Scalewizard" he was extremely convincing about how it would remove 
>> virtually all limescale deposits within a month of fitting.
> 31 days before you get results.
> QVC only offer a 30 day money back guarantee!


I wonder if they'll have it back in stock next February

Owain

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> He's an actor. And not to be trusted. ;-)


That's like telling a child Santa doesn't exist :-(

Owain