BOILER PROTECTION
INSTALLERS CAN SUPPORT CUSTOMERS IN THE HARDEST-HIT COUNTIES BY ADDING A MAGNETIC FILTER AND SCALE-REDUCTION DEVICES TO PROTECT BOILERS FROM PREMATURE DETERIORATION… Mitigating limescale risk
A new report highlights the significant risk across much of Ireland from hard water, one of the most common and overlooked causes of boiler breakdowns and rising energy bills. Just 1.6mm of limescale can increase a boiler’s energy use by around 12%, while a full boiler replacement typically costs €2,800 to €3,500, according to Complete Plumbing Solutions. The Cork-based business has published the report, highlighting around 65% of Ireland is underlain by limestone, with the hardest water in Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, Kildare and Meath. Further areas also affected include Dublin, Louth, Carlow, Longford, Roscommon, Clare, Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway’s lowlands. Sean Richardson, Founder of Complete Plumbing Solutions, says, “Hardness can change dramatically from one area to the next, even within the same county. Cork is a perfect example, harder inland, softer near the coast. “That’s why I always tell people not to assume. You can check a geological map, but the only way to know for certain is to have your own supply checked. “When hard water is heated, the
minerals in it come out of solution and settle as limescale on the inside of your boiler, your heating element and your pipework. That scale acts like a layer of insulation. Your boiler then has to work harder and burn more energy to heat your home to the same temperature. In effect, you end up paying to heat limescale instead of water. “And it doesn’t stop at your heating bill. Scale narrows your pipes, makes your radiators noisy, reduces your water flow and shortens the life of your whole system. A boiler that should last 12 to 15 years can fail years early, and at €3,000 or more for a replacement, that’s one of the most expensive repair bills a homeowner will ever face.” For installers supporting homeowners in affected areas, steps to address the issue include annual boiler servicing so scale is caught early. A magnetic system filter can be installed to protect against sludge, alongside a scale-reduction device in hard-water areas.
Hard water in Ireland
Water hardness is measured in milligrams of calcium carbonate per litre (mg/L), with anything above 200 mg/L is classed as hard. Readings above 300 mg/L are considered very hard or excessively hard. According to the Geological Survey of Ireland, groundwater in the limestone Midlands has the highest average hardness in the country, reaching up to 380 mg/L, while the southwest coast is among the softest at around 150 mg/L. By contrast, the softest water is found along the Atlantic and southwest coasts, including Donegal, west Mayo, Kerry and west Cork, where granite and peat geology and surface- water supplies keep mineral levels low.
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