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Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valve

Posted: Mon 14 Jan 2013 10:43 pm
by philyesil
This topic relates to lime scale deposits in a cold water roof tank with a hyrofor (pressurised system).

My daughters flat in Nicosia has a roof tank and a hydrofor which provides pressure to the hot and cold water system.

A few months ago the cold water tank was over flowing and i thought it was a problem with the ballcock assembly, which I changed but to no good result.

I continued to check the system and discovered that the one way valve on the cold outlet had pieces of limescale lodged in the valve cause the water from the gound level tank to back fill the tank and thus it overflowed.
I have now cleaned the valves and also changed them on two occaisions since then but it seems that more limescale finds its way into the one way valve lodging it open and thus causing water to flow past the valve into the tank.
All i can think of now is to remove all limescale from the two tanks, which in this weather is more difficult.
Has anyone out there had similar problems? If so how did you rectify the problem.
Is there anything that can be fitted to the tank to stop the deposit of lime / salts. The water is very salty / heavy in lime deposits.
All of the fitting ie check valves etc seem to be suffering from the heavy lime / salts in the water.
Any advise would be much appreciated.
I know a water softener would help but they are expensive.

Re: Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valv

Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2013 7:11 am
by TRNCVaughan
An in-line limescale inhibitor will solve the problem but it will take time to dissolve existing scale.

Re: Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valv

Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2013 7:55 am
by philyesil
Thanks TRNCV for your help. Any idea of cost of the unit/ is it ionic or does it work of mains electric. Problem here is the water in Nicosia is so heavily polluted.
Also where can you get one?

Re: Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valv

Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2013 9:26 am
by JBA
I clean my ground, roof and hot water tanks every couple of years because, even if there isn't a problem like yours, I still get lots of limescale 'grit' blocking tap filters, toilet ballcocks etc.
Now in addition I have put short lengths of pipe (approx. 2 inches) into the outlets on all the tanks. This leaves a 2" deposit area for the limescale grit to collect which vastly reduces the amount that gets into the house system. It still needs cleaning of course but it reduces problems between cleans.

Re: Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valv

Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2013 11:30 am
by TRNCVaughan
philyesil wrote:Thanks TRNCV for your help. Any idea of cost of the unit/ is it ionic or does it work of mains electric. Problem here is the water in Nicosia is so heavily polluted.
Also where can you get one?
I can let you have a Scalemaster system which is in-line and requires no electricity. Cost to you, supply only, £149 inc VAT. Fitting is easy for any plumber.

Re: Problem with lime/salt deposit jamming open one way valv

Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2013 6:15 pm
by philyesil
Thanks everyone for their help. I am going to speak to my daughter about the Scalemaster. I will contact you again if she wants to gom ahead.