Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the Things You Want to Know About ScaleBusters

Below is a list of common questions about the ION ScaleBuster.
Click on the question to reveal the answer.

 

• Does the ION ScaleBuster^® comply with water regulations?

  The manufacturers have taken every step to ensure that ION ScaleBuster® meets the most stringent codes of practice for materials and their use in potable water. The product is certified by WRAS in the UK, WQA (to ANSI/NSF 61&372) in North America, ACS in France and TÜV for Europe (Germany). The ION ScaleBuster® models have been tested and certified to 10 bar (threaded models), 16 bar (PN16 models) or 40 bar (PN40 models), or for U models- 150 psi (class 150 models) or 300 psi (class 300 models).

• Will ION ScaleBuster^® affect water pressure and flow rates?

  The internal configuration of ION ScaleBuster® is designed to create turbulence. However, this causes minimum pressure drop and is unlikely to affect water flow.

• Is the ION ScaleBuster^® dependent on water flow rates?

  Each ION ScaleBuster® model is designed to operate across a broad range of flow conditions, unlike many other products based on different technologies.

• Does turbulent flow affect the performance of the ION ScaleBuster^®?

  No. The design of the ION ScaleBuster® creates turbulence within its structure in order to improve the ISB® treatment effects. This means it can be installed in any convenient location.

• Why do existing scale deposits clear?

  By precipitating hardness, the treated water becomes less saturated and, therefore, is able to dissolve old deposits over a period of time.

• How quickly will the ION ScaleBuster^® clean a system?

  The time taken will depend on several factors; the thickness of scale deposits and the distance of effected area from the installed ION ScaleBuster®. The actual volume of water passing through ION ScaleBuster® will determine the length of time taken to clean scale and corrosion deposits from the system. However, once installed, ISB® will commence its job immediately provided that a water flow is still possible.

• Why does corrosion cease?

  The patented design of the ISB® allows for use of materials in its construction that will not lead to corrosion/blocking within the device. It is a known fact for instance, that stainless steel immersed in water suffers with crevice & pitting corrosion due to the chloride ions found in water. The ION ScaleBuster® does not use any stainless steel for the construction of its special cavitation/turbulence chambers.

• Why use the ION ScaleBuster^® as opposed to a chemical treatment?

  Chemical methods are losing popularity since their use adds unwanted pollutants to the water table/ground water. For instance, the use of phosphates has now been banned in the production of washing powders in some major industrialised countries since their use promotes the growth of algae and other oxygen depleting organisms. Without oxygen, lake and rivers stagnate. Even water softeners add to the total sodium present in drinking water where recycling of water is the custom. Chemicals are expensive to dispose of and of course damage the environment. Chemicals can cause health and safety issues.

• Why there are savings of chemicals in swimming pools or cooling towers after ION ScaleBuster^®?

  By removing scale deposits, there are fewer habitats for residual bacteria. Also, the flocculation of organic colloids makes filtration much more effective reducing the quantity of chlorine/chemicals needed for sterilization.

• Will ION ScaleBuster^® soften the water?

  No, not in the strict sense of the word “soften”. However, because some of the dissolved hardness is precipitated from the water, soap and detergent economies are made possible. A “soft” feel to water is often noticeable. Salt-based softeners add large quantities of sodium to the water. This is generally undesirable for those with certain health problems. ION ScaleBuster® adds no sodium to your water.

• Is the taste of water affected?

  ION ScaleBuster® does improve the taste of water by “masking” unpleasant flavours such as chlorine. It is believed by some experts in the field of physical conditioning that these flavours have become trapped in the precipitated solids.

• What causes the chlorine taste to diminish from water after treatment by ION ScaleBuster^®?

  Free chlorine is absorbed into the precipitated particles.

• How long will ION ScaleBuster^® last?

  This depends on the quality and quantity of the water passing through the ION ScaleBuster®. Numerous ISB® devices are still operating efficiently without maintenance or repair in both commercial and industrial situations after 20 years of use. Naturally, in aggressive and non-potable waters where ISB® is used to prevent corrosion, a lower life expectancy could result. However the PTFE still remains active to prevent scaling. However, there is a 10 year warranty on material on all ION ScaleBuster® products for potable water applications.

• Will it save energy?

  Yes. Because ION ScaleBuster® will remove existing scale build up on heating services, such as hot water heaters, electric heating elements, industrial heat exchangers, hot water pipes and tanks, less energy is required to heat the water. A thickness of scale of only an eighth of one inch (3mm) can add 25% to energy costs.

• Why is ION ScaleBuster^® better than Magnetic Units?

  ION ScaleBuster® is much more versatile and has the benefit of the electrostatic effect caused by moving water. Magnetic devices require very controlled water flow conditions that may keep them from working properly in some situations.

• Is ION ScaleBuster^® effective for hot water systems?

  ION ScaleBuster® is becoming a firm favourite for protecting hot water systems (temperatures up to 60^oC or 140^oF) against corrosion. In hot water circulation systems, slightly different circumstances dictate that for best performance, continuous filtration is used to remove precipitated solids. Recommendations for proper installation are readily available through our network of international distributors.

• Where should the ION ScaleBuster^® be situated in relation to equipment?

  Ideally the ION ScaleBuster® should be located at least a few yards from the equipment to be protected by the device. This allows the growth of precipitated particles of scale to take place before the water reaches heat-producing and scale-forming areas.

• How long does the effect last?

  Compared with other devices, ION ScaleBuster® has been developed with the size of precipitated particles being a prime consideration. Large particles have a much smaller surface area than their equivalent mass made up of relatively smaller particles. For this reason, they are much slower to re-dissolve in the water and subsequently the treated water has long-lasting effects. Water treated using ISB® is likely to continue to do its job of removing old scale deposits from pipe-work for much longer than competitive products, which produce much smaller particles. The manufacturers were the first to use laser particle analysis to determine precisely what physical effects their product generated.

• Why is it necessary to ground to earth the ION ScaleBuster^®?

  The changes, which take place in the ION ScaleBuster®, relate mainly to the precipitation of carbonates arising from the breakdown of dissolved bicarbonates. When any change takes place in the chemical structure of a substance that results in at least a temporary change in its constituents, there is a corresponding change in electrical charge. If this charge is not allowed to neutralize (which in the case of theISB® is by means of grounding the charge to a suitable earth connection), then the desired changes may be restricted or limited in duration.

• Why do the minerals in solution precipitate after ION ScaleBuster^®?

  The action of the ION ScaleBuster® causes the breakdown of the bicarbonates in solution precipitating less soluble carbonates.

• Can precipitated particles collect together?

  In regular “straight through” systems, the particles are normally swept through and dispersed without being noticed. In systems that are circulating or contain settlement areas then some measures may be needed to make sure that these are removed either by filtration or flushing.
  In the main, the subject never arises. Domestic kettles, for instance, may need a weekly gentle brush and rinse to expel any soft residues. This has been accepted by customers to be a small price to pay for the removal and prevention of hard, caked scale deposits.

• What causes flocculation of the smaller particles?

  Alteration of the static balance within the ION ScaleBuster® neutralizes charged particles, which do not then repel one another. This is due to the patented construction of the anode & PTFE turbulence chambers within the Bronze body of the ION ScaleBuster®.

• Why can ion exchange softeners save salt consumption?

  By removing dissolved salts from the water as precipitated carbonates, they are no longer present as ions in solution. This means that the volume of water, which a given size of softener will treat between re-generation can be extended. Savings on salt usage would mean that a large hotel, for example, can save significantly per year.