In many areas of the UK, such as the Thames Valley, Kent and East Anglia in particular, rain water will pass through rocks that contain calcium and magnesium. The water that filters through these rocks will partially dissolve these minerals. Your water supplier will remove this underground water, clean it, and send it to homes across your region. But the dissolved minerals remain. When the water is heated (especially over 63 degrees C) the calcium deposits will fall out of the water and adhere to surfaces. This is what's commonly called 'limescale'. It’s highly damaging to water heating equipment and costs consumers millions of pounds per year.

 

However, you don’t have to resort to fancy ideas of protecting water systems from the damaging effects of limescale. Water softeners are all well and good. But they are expensive, and require constant salt replenishment and maintenance. The problem with physical water conditioners such as those that use electronic signals is that they seem largely unproven, and manufacturers of these units are conspicuously reluctant to offer a money-back guarantee if they don’t work. Polyphosphate inhibitors almost exclusively use a ‘dosing’ unit which has tiny holes for the water to flow in and out. However, the holes block up with the powdery polyphosphate!

 

We have carried out research for many years on what works and what doesn’t.  Over thirty years of attending to hot water appliances that are encrusted with limescale has revealed that there really is only one choice - Siliphos, silicate-polyphosphate. A Siliphos dispenser doses the water with silicate-polyphosphate. But by being a ‘straight-through’- flow unit, the LimeStop manages to overcome the problem of clogging. We also listened to what engineers wanted from their limescale inhibitor - and LimeStop is the result. It’s copper rather than plastic, it has brass fittings rather than plastic, and there’s no need to replace the Siliphos!

 

Siliphos is a widely-trusted food-grade material proven time and again to inhibit limescale formation. Its ability to combat limescale deposits is really quite remarkable as it both lays down a protective layer on the walls of the supply piping and inhibits calcium deposits. The LimeStop is a small copper cylinder packed with 400 grams of Siliphos which can be fitted prior to ANY combination boiler or mains-pressure thermal store. It's even suitable for drinking water! It can be supplied ready-fitted with compression connectors suitable for either ¾" (22mm) in place of the standard 15mm compression connectors. After two year’s use you simply replace the complete unit. We will even remind you when it's due. Then there's our legendary performance guarantee: If it doesn't work then you'll get a refund of your original purchase cost. Now, that's a guarantee!* The LimeStop retails direct from us for just £79.00 plus postage. That means you get permanent limescale protection for your appliance for just 10p a day.

 

REMEMBER

The LimeStop is guaranteed to work...or your money back!

LimeStop - questions & answers

 

What will be the annual cost of the LimeStop?

It can be as little as £34.50 - which is a little over 9p a day. The LimeStop must be replaced every two years. If you do this yourself, and if you’re a registered customer of ours (and you can collect the replacement LimeStops yourself) then annually £34.50 is all it currently costs. This is because although the initial cost is £79.00, as a registered customer you get replacements for just £69.00 each time (plus postage). Even with postage the annual cost works out to just £39.50.

What is the maximum it could cost annually?

If you ask your local plumber to change it for you then you could expect to pay about £30 (it really takes just a few minutes). So if you add the cost of the replacement at £79.00 including postage then that’s an annual cost of £54.50

What's the length of the LimeStop?

It's 200mm from thread to thread (end to end) requiring a tube cut of 180mm.

What's the width?

63mm.

What does it weigh?

950 grams.

What's it made of?

Copper, with brass fittings.

What's inside that stops limescale?

Siliphos. It's a food grade material called silicate-polyphosphate.

How does it stop limescale?

As water flows through the LimeStop it flows over the spheres of Siliphos - and they give up a slight amount of their coating. Siliphos stops limescale in two ways. First of all it makes the calcium molecules stay in suspension, rather than stick. Secondly it lays down a layer of silicate-polyphosphate on the walls of pipes etc. This too helps to stop limescale sticking.

How much Siliphos is in there?

430 grams

Why that particular amount?

Because it's the optimum amount to ensure limescale inhibition in domestic appliances.

Should it be fitted either horizontal or vertical?

Either, though vertical is ideal.

Does the Siliphos 'run out' of its effectiveness?

Yes. We recommend replacing the complete unit after two years. We will send you a reminder when that time is up.

Can't I just replace the Siliphos?

Replacing the Siliphos in any Siliphos-dispenser isn't a straightforward job. There's also the likelihood of leaks afterwards. So we opted for a replaceable unit, rather than one which can be refilled. We trialled different options but found that this was ideal. It means you don't have to try and buy Siliphos and there's no messy, soggy used Siliphos to bother with. We've made the LimeStop for an excellent price, so that it's actually economic to discard it and replace it with another unit. It can work out as cheap as just 9p a day.

Is the water drinkable?

Yes, Siliphos is a non-hazardous food-grade material. It conforms to EN1208:2005 (chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption) and WHO standards for drinking water supplies. Unlike artificially-softened water it's safe for babies too. The LimeStop unit itself is just copper (like your pipes) and has no plastics, rubber or material of any manufacture likely to contaminate your supply. The fittings used are brass (standard pipe fittings) and sealed to the LimeStop with a setting potable sealant. There’s no requirement for the LimeStop to be WRAS approved for use with mains water drinking supplies as it is made of copper and brass with an approved food-grade material.  WRAS is the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme

Is it classed as a water softener?

No, the hardness is still there, it's just suspended. This is true of all limescale inhibitors; if it doesn't actually remove the 'hard' salts then it's not a water softener.

If the treated water is then stored, will it still be effective?

The effect diminishes with time. All such limescale inhibitors only ever affect moving water. The sooner the stored water is used the better.

Can I protect my house supply, rather than just my boiler?

Yes, but fit two units together in series. Also, make sure that it is fitted after your garden tap supply; otherwise you'll waste the Siliphos on watering plants and washing your car.

Your instructions say not to fit the LimeStop too close to the boiler, why?

Warm water backfeeding down the supply will degrade the Siliphos. Its period of effectiveness would be less.

Can I fit it in a warm cupboard?

Yes, but not if the ambient temperature is above 30 degrees C for the same reasons as above. Also, fit it low down in the cupboard where the cold mains enters.

Will it protect mains thermal store appliances?

Yes. Most mains thermal stores use a coil of mains cold water that is heated by surrounding hot water. This is increasingly common. However, such units rapidly 'scale-up' in hard water areas.

Will I still get limescale around my showerhead?

Most possibly, yes. This is because the Siliphos-effect will stop your shower scaling-up, but 'still' water will be left on the showerhead and around taps etc. The effect will be lost and deposits may well occur.

Will I still get scale in my kettle?

We strongly advise you to briefly rinse the kettle out every time it's used. This will help a great deal.

What will the LimeStop protect?

The LimeStop is ONLY made for fast-flowing mains water, and is thus ideally suited to combination boilers and thermal store units. It is not recommended for showers.

Can I fit it to a conventional hot water cylinder?

No, this would be a stored system.  However it can be fitted to a mains pressure hot water cylinder.

Can I fit it on my central heating system?

No, it is made for mains cold water supplies, not central heating. You shouldn't get any limescale in your heating system providing it has been installed correctly. If you want to stop magnetite sludge (black, oily substance) then fit one of our BoilerGuard units.

What size ports has the LimeStop got?

The LimeStop is supplied with 15mm compression fittings as standard.

What if I have ¾" water supply?

No problem. The LimeStop can be specified with 22mm or ¾" connectors at no extra charge.

Will my water pressure be reduced?

The LimeStop is a through-flow unit, and you would not see any noticeable drop in water pressure or flow after fitting.

Will the LimeStop withstand high water pressures?

Yes. Unlike some plastic units, which are tested to 10 bar, the LimeStop - being made of copper - will withstand extraordinarily high pressures.

Should I still add salt to my dishwasher?

Yes.

What is limescale?

It's dissolved rock. Rain water dissolves the calcium and magnesium out of the rock. This water is then treated and sent to your home. When the water is heated the dissolved particles re-solidify and stick to the walls of the heat exchanger. It will do this at low temperatures, but it really begins at anything above 63 degrees C.

Is limescale harmful?

To your heating appliances, yes, very! Even a tiny coating of it will reduce the efficiency of your appliance, meaning your energy bills will be higher. It also causes premature failure of key components.

Why is the LimeStop better than other limescale inhibitors?

The LimeStop requires no electricity or maintenance. It doesn't use magnets or questionable electromagnetic waves. It uses a time-proven material that we feel good enough to offer our performance guarantee of your money back. However, it also goes a few better than very similar units because it's metal, not plastic, and doesn't require that you fiddle with large 'O' rings and wet Siliphos! You may be aware of a very similar unit to ours, but it requires 6-monthly topping up, and annual cleaning and Siliphos replacement. With ours you simply discard the unit after two years use, and have a nice clean one ready to go for minimum fuss.

Do you guarantee that LimeStop works?

Yes. Our guarantee is that the heat exchanger of your hot water appliances will not suffer from 'scaling-up'. If it did then your supplier (or us, if you purchased it direct) would refund the initial purchase cost. We believe all limescale inhibitors should carry a performance guarantee.  Don't buy one that hasn't got a money-back guarantee.

Any clauses to that?

Yes, you must have had the unit at least two years, and obviously that you had replaced it at the appropriate time. You would be required to provide proof of purchase.

Have you ever had to give anyone their money back due to an appliance re-scaling?

No.

How much is it?

£79.00 plus £10 postage. If you require two to protect a whole house installation then the charge would be £145 plus £15 postage.

How can I get one?

Simply email us.

Do you give a discount if I buy more than one?

Yes. It's £145 for 2, £345 for 5. All plus postage. Email or phone us first.

Is the LimeStop a British product?

Yes, we're proud to say it is. It is a quality product made in England, not China - like so many similar units.

Is it guaranteed?

Apart from our legendary performance guarantee, we actually guarantee the unit itself for life! If it were faulty we would replace it free of charge. Each unit is sealed, and tested for water-soundness before you receive it.

I have soft water, so surely I don’t need a LimeStop?

The LimeStop can even be used in soft water areas, as the Siliphos lays down a protective coating on the walls of the supply piping - thus preventing acidic-water attack and so-called ‘Blue Water’.

 

 

 

*We will refund your original purchase cost if your heat exchanger ‘scales-up’.  We regret we cannot refund postage & packing costs.  Obviously we can only make a refund if we have supplied it. Otherwise contact your supplier for a refund. The LimeStop must be returned to us in a serviceable condition and you must provide proof of purchase.  We only recommend that the LimeStop is fitted to water appliances where the water is instantly heated. That means most combi boilers, Gledhill, Powermax, and Albion Mainsflow heaters etc.  If you have a conventional boiler with a hot water tank (yellow, green or blue foam-covered) then this is stored water.  Limescale inhibitors struggle to treat such water as any effect on the water fades off if it’s stored.  If you are in any doubt then simply email us first.  However, if you purchase it by mistake we will be happy to refund your purchase cost.  The LimeStop must be replaced every two years.

 

 

You may be aware that we’re not the only company selling a Siliphos-based limescale inhibitor. However, to show you that ours works out much cheaper, we conducted research on prices.  For a typical example we chose the first page of a Google search on our nearest rival.  The purchase price came out at an average of £113.45.  Added to that would be a annual replacement of the Siliphos spheres (whereas with ours you simply fit a new unit every two years).  Replacement Siliphos for our nearest rival came out at an average price of £18.87.  If we take both units over a ten-year period (adding required labour costs) this is what we found:

 

Scalgon LimeStop

Purchase price:  £89.00 including delivery

Labour cost of installing:  £50.00 (purely a guesstimate)

4 x replacements @ £79.00  £316.00

Labour for replacing @ £30 each time:  £120.00 (purely a guesstimate)

Total cost over 10 years £571.00

 

Our Nearest Rival

Purchase price:  £113.45 including delivery

Labour cost of installing:  £76.72 (purely a guesstimate)*

9 x replacement Siliphos @ £18.87:  £169.83

Labour for replacing @ £30 each time:  £270.00 (purely a guesstimate)

Total cost over 10 years £630.00

 

The LimeStop is therefore £55 cheaper over 10 years

 

*Our rival’s product doesn’t fit between piping like ours, and requires a ‘re-pipe’ when retro-fitting, and would also then require fittings.  The extra labour and materials reflects this at an increased cost of £26.72 (£20 labour and £6.72 fittings).

 

 

To order your LimeStop, telephone us on 0118 942 4981

 

 

 

 

 

 

A British business,

not a European one

 

Our products are all made in Britain

 

Contact us:

0118 942 4981

0770 231 6157

info@scalgon.co.uk

LimeStop

Stops limescale - GUARANTEED!

In a hard water area, this is what can result from not protecting your pipes and appliances. However, it’s no good choosing a limescale inhibitor that doesn’t work! We give a solid GUARANTEE that the LimeStop works by offering your money back if it doesn’t. Ask our rivals if they’ll do the same. We know they don’t!

The LimeStop is the ONLY limescale inhibitor made from metal that GUARANTEES you won’t get limescale back!