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Whole house water conditioning systems > Salt free water conditioners > NoScale® Conditioning FAQ

NoScale salt free conditionersWater conditioning FAQ

List of questions

How do the NoScale® function?

How can I test the media performance ?

What effects should I expect after installing system with NoScale® media?

Will NoScale® de scale my existing lime scale build up on toilets, shower/tub enclosures, faucets etc.?

Is the NoScale® media certified?

What are the operating conditions?

Will iron foul the NoScale® media?

Since there is no backwash needed what prevents the media bed from getting fouled?

What if the media bed gets contaminated with bacteria?

What is the life expectancy of the NoScale® media before needing to be replaced?

How the NoScale® media compare with "classical" ionic exchange salt softeners?

Isn't potassium better alternative to "no salt" regeneration?

What about magnet softeners, how effective are they?

In what applications can conditioners be used?

How are your systems sold?

What are the differences between traditional salt using water softening and the NoScale® media?

  • >99% scale removal from pipes and water using appliances
  • Lime scale prevention
  • No Power
  • No Backwash
  • No Maintenance
  • No Salt
  • No Chemicals

How do the NoScale® function?

Hard water is water that has high mineral content mainly charged dissolved magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) carbonate (temporary hardness). NoScale® is a catalyst media which transforms the dissolved Mg2+ and Ca2+ carbonate into non-charged neutral chemical bonds (calcite crystals). When the crystals reach size in the range of nanometer (microscopic) they detach and are carried away by the water flow. The crystals are heat resistant and do not revert to dissolved state.

How can I test the media performance?

Answer for water treatment dealer: Depend on the flow rate and media contact time with water the pH will drop by 0.02-0.05 units and the TDS value is reduced significantly. Percentage TDS reduction depends of the original TDS value. We had TDS reduction between 10-20%.

Answer for homeowner: Use two sauce pans each filled with unconditioned and conditioned water and bring them to boiling point. As the water boils down the unconditioned water will build up hard scum on the side of the sauce pan. The conditioned sauce pan will have no hard scum build on the side of the pan and you will see a circulation of hardness crystals at the bottom of the pan. These crystals are easily wiped out with cloth or sponge. top

 If the water hardness is tested after the system is installed will the hardness level be different?

The water  tested after the NoScale® System will have similar hardness levels.  In the short term, it may even test slightly harder due to the existing scale being removed from the plumbing (This is usually seen more on the hot water side due to more hardness build up on the inside of the hot water heater and pipes).  After the existing scale is removed the hardness will go back to normal hardness levels.

Scale deposit and removalWhat effects should I expect after installing Aquacera system w/ NoScale® media?

1. New construction home; soft water will feel silk and no lime scale deposits on bath tubs, shower glass and plumbing fixtures.
2. Existing construction home; with or without "classical" softener you may notice that the water is becoming harder in the beginning as piping scale begins dissolving. It will improve daily as the existing scale melts away. Depending on the thickness of the existing scale it will take some time (up to 90 days) to remove 100%. The dissolved scale residue is easily wiped off with a cloth or a sponge. Once de scaling is completed your pipes will remain free of lime scale build up. You may experience a salty taste or slight odor in the water for a short period of time after removal of the old softener. This is because the old softener was under performing causing calcium/sodium build up in piping system. The new conditioner will remove the calcium/sodium build up. Consumer NoScale® brochure in PDF format>> top

Will NoScale® media de scale my existing lime scale build up on toilets, shower/tub enclosures, faucets etc.?

Because there is not direct water flow across these surfaces, other than water splashing, the old scale has to be removed manually using lime removal cleaners. Any new accumulation will wipe of easily.

If you use a dishwasher and replace a salt based softener with NoScale® you may notice some calcium spotting on glassware. This will diminish to the residual level of the calcium present in your water supply when the de scaling is completed. In the interim add a half cup of household vinegar to the rinse cycle to eliminate a short term spotting problem. You should switch to a phosphate free dishwasher detergent and reduce your soap usage to the level you used with salt softener.

During the de scaling period flush your water heater for about five minutes once a week. Once de scaling is completed your water heater will be more energy efficient and last longer. Additional benefits with NoScale® are 50% less soap and detergent use and best of all not having corrosive sodium in your water.top

Is the NoScale® media certified?

The NoScale® meets the stringent European water quality standards, which include the DVGW-W512 guidelines. The German test method DVGW-W512 was developed for the evaluation of the efficiency of water treatment installations for reducing lime scale build-up. At this time NoScale® media is in test stage under DVGW-W512 protocol. The test result will be published on this page upon completion.

In addition to, the NoScale® media was tested and approved by WQA in the USA to ANSI/NSF standard 61 for materials safety (to be in contact with potable water) and carry WQA gold seal.

What are the operating conditions?

Contact time with water 2 seconds, pH range 6-9, chlorine less than 3 ppm, iron (Fe), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), oil and grease must be removed prior NoScale® conditioner. Max. temperature up to 150° F however the maximum temperature is governed by media tank and other components used in a system. The range of hardness with the two models offered on our web site are up to 25/425 g.p.g/mg.L. The NoScale® media is not limited to the water hardness therefore we can design system to any level of hardness. top

Technical data of the NoScale® media?

Surface: Ceramic. Matrix: Polyacryl. Size: 0.4 - 1.2 mm. Color: Light yellow. Bulk density: 50 lbs. per cu. ft.

Will iron foul the NoScale® media?

No. The media ceramic-polymer spheres oxidizes the dissolved iron to a precipitated particulate form. We use a proprietary filled media backwash system after the conditioner to trap the iron particles. Daily automatic backwash of the media tank is the only requirement. This way we soften the water and to remove iron (up to 40 ppm) with no salt and no chemicals.

This is a new, the most advanced patented approach to water conditioning and iron removal.top

Since there is no backwash needed what prevents the media bed from getting fouled?

The media operates in continuous up flow backwash condition therefore do not filter anything from the water. The NoScale® media works as a catalyst only, not as a filtration media therefore there is no accumulation of anything in the suspended bed of the NoScale® media. The media holding tank contains about 25-30% media and the rest of it is freeboard backwash volume.top

What if the media bed gets contaminated with bacteria?

Continuous backwash is the best action to keep the media clean. The media can be treated with chlorine (up to 2-3 ppm) to kill bacteria and to remove organic matter.

What is the life expectancy of the NoScale® media before needing to be replaced?

Several years ago media manufacturer had installed over 500 conditioners in real life applications for annual field testing purposes. The sixth annual test was performed in 2008 with results of zero media attrition (spend ability) and conditioning the water with the same performance as day one, when they were initially installed. So, conservative estimation is at least 6 years.top

How the NoScale® media compares with "classical" ionic exchange salt softeners?

The NoScale® nano ceramic technology is the most innovative advancement in water treatment in the last quarter century. It does not add nor remove anything from the water. It leaves the water in it's own natural state with all the benefits of naturally soft water.

Unlike salt conditioned water, NoScale® conditioned water meets WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines on calcium and magnesium content in drinking water.

The "classical" ion exchange resin technology is over 60 years old and works on a different principal. In ion exchange softeners for each calcium and magnesium ion removed (the hardness minerals) two sodium ions are added to the water which can have adverse effects to humans, environment, plant life, septic fields etc.

In many parts of the world as well in US there are outright bans and or pending legislation to stop salt discharge into municipal sewers. Imagine the kind of problem a sewer treatment plant will have with hundreds or thousands softeners discharging salt brine down the drain. Salt brine interferes with the bacteria inhibiting capabilities in degradation of the raw sewage.top

Isn't potassium better alternative to "no salt" regeneration?

No!!! It is not the healthy potassium (K) used as a regenerants. It is potassium chloride (KCL), a substitute for salt (sodium chloride) with same if not worst adverse effects to humans, environment etc. as salt except it's more expensive. Let's face it. It's still a salt but the word "potassium" makes a better sales pitch. They both remove valuable calcium and magnesium from the water.

Salt softened water feels mushy, slippery and slimy when showering and gives a "can't rinse the soap off my skin" feeling. This feeling comes from the sodium reacting with your body oils.

Most detergents contain a lot of sodium which produce a lot of suds but the suds have no cleaning effect. A typical salt softener salesperson will demonstrate the suds effect for a salt softener performance.top

What about magnet softeners, how effective are they?

We do not know of magnets that work efficiently on constant water flow demand. There may be some magnet products that perform satisfactorily in closed loop systems such as boilers feed water where only trickle water is added to the system.

Hard water cannot be magnetized. For something to be magnetized and alter the ionic state it need to possess a good amount of ferromagnetic materials in its composition. Calcium and magnesium ions don't have any so, how those inexpensive "alternatives" to salt free softening gadgets will "soften" the water.top

In what applications can conditioners with NoScale® media be used?

In residential applications where superior quality water is desired for taste and naturally like soft water functionality. In commercial applications where de scaling and scale prevention is required such as:

  • Restaurants, commercial kitchens and coffee shops; extends the life and reduces maintenance of ice makers, coffee machines, dishwashers, water heaters, steamers, laundry equipment. A plus is better tasting water and less coffee use.
  • Landscaping and greenhouses; improve soil percolation for stronger root propagation.
  • Specialty applications; boiler feed water, solar equipment, RO pretreatment, cooling towers, car washes and many other applications.

How are your systems sold?

Aquacera brand systems with NoScale® media are made in USA by CFCI and are sold through professional water treatment dealers as well directly to retail consumers having water analysis report.top

NoScale® MEDIA - THE NO SALT APPROACH TO WATER CONDITIONING. THE FUTURE OF WATER CONITIONING! MAKE THE CHANGE.

NoScale® is registered trade mark of Fairey Industrial Ceramics Ltd UK. Aquacera USA is an authorized user for N. America.

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