The dissolved calcium and magnesium in hard water can often be tough on tankless hot water systems. When hard water is heated, those minerals are released in the form of a chalk-like material that coats pipes, fixtures and fittings, creating an insulating layer that can lead to lower efficiency and system malfunction.
But tankless water heater manufacturer Noritz America fought the problem with the original Scale Shield, which aids in preventing the buildup of hard water minerals while eliminating the need for a water softener. Installed in the water heater’s water supply line, Scale Shield uses a polyphosphate material to capture calcium before entering the water heater, preventing limescale from forming. The calcium is rendered harmless and is discarded down the drain. According to Noritz lead engineer Randall Oshiro, Scale Shield offers time and cost savings while reducing the footprint inside the home — all attractive benefits to homeowners.
“Installing Scale Shield is a significantly smaller cost burden than replacing your water heater’s heat exchanger due to excessive scale buildup,” he says. “All of these cost and time savings, without a doubt, greatly enhance the value of the homeowner’s tankless water heater investment.”
The original Scale Shield has recently been upgraded to include a sediment filter that removes particulate matter from the water. This 5-micron filter sifts through the debris while introducing the polyphosphate additive to the water. In addition, two pressure gauges allow the homeowner to check pressure levels manually. As the particulate matter and debris collect within the filter, the buildup causes water-pressure loss in the house, indicating that a replacement filter is needed. To replace the filter, the homeowner simply unscrews the housing, removes the old cartridge, and replaces it with a new one.
The new Scale Shield also uses a different treatment medium than its predecessor. A bead-like material replaces the original’s powdery substance, increasing the efficiency of water treatment and reducing corrosion caused by chlorides, silica and dissolved iron. According to Oshiro, homeowners will reap cost savings through lower maintenance costs and a reduced need to periodically descale their Noritz tankless water heaters — even in locales with seriously hard water.
“By reducing limescale, the new Scale Shield inevitably boosts the unit’s longevity while also minimizing scale buildup in other plumbing fixtures and fittings, thus lowering cleaning and other maintenance expenses,” he says. 866-766-7489; www.noritz.com
