Scale Control - what is scale - scale can clog your pipes - AquaTek Pro

Calcium scale is a hard, thick coating of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)  that forms on heating elements, in pipes, plumbing fixtures, water using appliances and R/O systems.

As calcium rich water enters the home, the carbonic acid/calcium equilibrium is interrupted within the pipes, plumbing fixtures, water heaters, appliances or water using devices. Because the Hydrogen Carbonate (Ca(HCO₃)₂) is a weak chemical compound, increases in temperature or water movement, will cause the compound to breakdown, causing parts of the Calcium (Ca₂), Magnesium (Mg₂) and Bicarbonate (HCO₃) to attach to the surfaces of heating elements, the inside of  pipes, water heaters, plumbing fixtures and water using devices. Over time, the scale coating continually thickens and is very difficult and costly to remove and can eventually stop water flow all together.

The negative effect of calcium is the scale it creates in or on pipe surfaces, water heaters, plumbing fixtures, heating elements, R/O systems and water using devices. The scale leads to higher energy, operating and maintenance costs for ice machines, coffee machines, reverse osmosis equipment, water heaters and other water using equipment. The scale may also contain and create a breeding environment for bacteria.

The “classic” water softening unit operates on the basis of io  exchange; exchanging calcium and magnesium ions in the water for sodium ions. When a water softener is used, the result is not only soft water, but also increased sodium content in the water supply. Sodium content in water softened by a water softener is minimal and is said to be less per gallon of water than a slice of bread.

Magnetic and electric systems are a relatively new invention. However, these systems only have a limited effectiveness at best, not a high enough percentage to prevent scale altogether especially, in high flow systems or conditions

The polyphosphate dissolves into the water and coats the iron, calcium and magnesium in it, making it difficult for these agents to precipitate from the water and stick to plumbing or other fixtures it comes in contact with. Using phospahte products to control scale can become costly.

The technologically advanced Scale Prep SP3 Media is an innovative solution that prevents all of the negative effects of calcium and magnesium, while allowing the positive health benefits to remain. This is not a water softener! These units, commonly called saltless water softeners do not operate the same as a true ion exchanging water softener. These unit change the electric potential of the calcium and magnesium ions before they are sent into the stucture they are attached to. These units will not remove contaminated calcium or magnesium and should never be considered water purification devices.

Scale Prep’s SP3 Anti-Scale Media was especially developed and manufactured to protect against the formation of scale and to help remove already existing scale from pipes and heat exchange surfaces.These systems are best used in industrial applications where boilers or other high heat water applications require the presence of calcium or magnesium without having scale fromation issues on equipment plumbing or surfaces.

The Scale Prep’s SP3 catalytic media prevents the formation of scale and helps to remove existing scale by accelerating the transformation of the calcium and magnesium minerals into non-distructive “Nano” particles. As the nano particles flow through plumbing systems, they do not attach to pipes, fixtures, valves, or heating elements; the result is 99% scale prevention and removal in high heat applications!

Scale Prep’s SP3 is successfully used in a number of applications for industrial and commercial usage. Virtually maintenance free, chemical free, and salt free, Scale Prep’s SP3 media water conditioners are a cost effective alternative where benefits and overall performance surpasses our competitors.