Hydroflow to cut scale in domestic hot water at about £140 fitted as here: (unit seems to cost about £100)and/or MagnaClean Professional filter to remove iron oxide particles from CH system at £250 fitted as here: (unit only seems to cost about £90!)One or both recommended today by the cheerful British Gas cove who (having failed to shift my dead old immersion heater) will return next week to fit a whole new HW cylinder "free" as part of my HomeCare policy.CH is pressurised system with hardly any discernable loss of pressure in recent years (hence no topping up). Powerflushed by BG several years ago and I presume - though wasn't here to check - refilled with corrosion inhibitor then. Certainly had it in before. Magnet applied to copper outlet of primary flow from cylinder sticks to it, so I'll buy that there is lots of iron oxide residue inside. But surely I want to stop that being produced in the first place?We are in a very hard water area and shower screens etc do get very encrusted with scale. But googling the group suggests these Hydroflow thingies aren't useful.And it's BG, the guy is on commission etc. I have no intention of getting either fitted next week, but might consider getting the estimable Ed Sirett to install one or t'other when he does me a new boiler in a few months' time. Updated views?

Try them if they don't work get your money back. I fitted an Aqua Dial version and it worked. Many others have had mixed results. Top quality makers recommend them, so the success rate must be good.

MagnaClean and Hydroflow recommended by British Gas: worth it?

Jan 14, 2008 25 Replies

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Dave Plowman (News) 11 years ago

Quite. Makes me wonder how my system has worked just fine for 40 odd years without one. In London, which is a hard water area.

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Bob Eager 11 years ago

Same with the way they push Calgon at you. I had to change the heater element in our washing machine after 12 years (hard water area). But it had practically no scale on it - the integrated gasket had failed.

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Dave Plowman (News) 11 years ago

Interesting to work out the cost of using Calgon in each and every wash over the average life of a washing machine.

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harryagain 11 years ago

Absolutely no evidence these magnetic/electronic descaling/ hard water improver devices work.

Ion exchange softening devices do work. (The ones you put salt in).

OTOH The magnetic traps for your central heating circuit are a good thing. Especially if you have had a new boiler fitted.

If your fitter can't get an immersion heater out of your cylinder, he is a tosser. I used to do this regularly years ago and never once failed.

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Fredxxx 11 years ago

Perhaps he's worried about destroying the tank. They don't build them like they used to.

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harryagain 11 years ago

No, he is a tosser. Probably got an NVQ. Or there is a financial incentive/work creation.

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