Cistermiser Combimate Limescale Reducer

Combimate is a user-friendly domestic limescale prevention device that uses Combiphos.

What is Combiphos?

Combiphos is the name of the crystal spheres used inside the Combimate unit. Combiphos is a harmless food-grade polyphosphate compound, that when added to water, prevents scale and stops corrosion. It achieves this by inhibiting the deposition of scale onto metallic surfaces.

Is Combiphos safe?

Yes. Combiphos is classed as a ‘food grade’ additive which conforms to European Standards EN1208 and World Health Organisation standards as a safe additive to drinking water.

You can install a Combimate directly on the rising cold water mains and safely bathe in or drink the water supplied. Combiphos is safe for water in contact with babies, tropical fish, pets and skin conditions.

How Combimate works –

Combimate is plumbed directly on the cold water supply to the property or appliance to protect the hot water system. As mains water flows through the Combimate, the water comes into contact with Combiphos.  The phosphate within Combiphos coats the inside of a home’s pipework, boiler heat exchanger and appliances with a non-residual, microscopic, protective coating to prevent scale-causing minerals from accumulating and aggressive soft water from corroding the system and appliances.

Where your home is vulnerable!

Limescale doesn’t just form on taps and shower heads. Limescale can form on any surface where water is heated, including the internal surfaces of pipework and boilers. Below is a list of places where your home is vulnerable to the damaging effects of limescale formation:

Boilers, shower head & screens, thermostatic valves, immersions, pipework, washing machines, taps and even electric kettles.

What is Limescale?

Limescale is the most visible symptom of hard water. It is comprised of calcium and magnesium, two minerals that form a residue when hard water is heated and evaporates. This residue forms as a white chalky scum, commonly found around taps, the bath, basins and shower cubicles. Limescale is an unwanted substance and is difficult to remove.

The hidden effects of Limescale

Inside a kettle is the most obvious place to spot limescale – the process of ‘descaling’ is common practice to restore efficiency and remove unwanted scale build up. However, limescale also builds up in places you can’t see. Left unchecked this scale will steadily reduce a home’s heating efficiency by clogging up pipes and boiler heat exchangers. This leads to decreased water pressure, flow rates and an increased energy demand; in turn leading to higher energy bills and maintenance costs.

Combimate beats both limescale and softwater corrosion –

Combimate is not a water softener but a phosphate dosing device.  Combimate does not alter the hardness (or softness) of the home’s water supply but through the process of adding phosphate prevents limescale build up and provides softwater corrosion protection

FEATURES & BENEFITS OF COMBIMATE LIMESCALE REDUCER

Money saving

• Ensures your water heating system efficiency is maintained
• Keeps energy costs down
• Avoid expensive repairs / replacement of boilers and water fittings
• Removes need for chemical de-scaling products

Effectiveness

• Protects domestic water systems against hard water limescale and soft water corrosion
• Extends the life of your water installation
• Helps maintain your home’s energy efficiency
• Avoids the time & labour of removing stubborn scale

Installation

• Compact size – easy to locate without losing precious space
• Configuration options – easy fitment to nearly any pipe configuration
• Simple compression fittings – clearly marked inlet and outlets with interchangeable fittings
• 15mm or 22m fittings – Combimate models are available in both sizes
• No electrics or drainage required – no need for an electrician or additional plumbing

Operation

• Totally automatic system – no user interaction required
• Energy-free – no power required
• Automatic water shut off – easy maintenance and a useful home safety feature
• Completely safe for human consumption

Maintenance

• Only requires an annual refill – a five-minute task
• Just a handful of Combiphos needed to refill – no need for bulky salt sacks or heavy lifting
• A DIY job that requires no special tools.

NOTE: To maintain your Combimate’s effectiveness, we recommend Combiphos is replaced annually.

Water treatment products explained:

Water Softeners – A water softener is a larger electrical /mechanical device which removes the chemicals in hard water areas which cause scaling: calcium and magnesium carbonate. These devices turn hard water to soft water.

Scale Prevention – These prevent these chemicals depositing themselves inside pipes, tanks and shower heads. These are small plumbed-in devices that use chemical, electrolytic or magnetic methods to accomplish this.  Combimate which is a hard water scale inhibitor is in this group.

Water Filter – these remove bacteria, chlorine, pesticide residues etc. These mostly come in the form of handheld filter jugs with disposable cartridges for potable use.

Are you thinking about installing a Combimate?

At Pinnacle Group, we are able to supply and install this device at your house. If you are interested contact us on 061 609865 / 0863114590 for a free no obligatory assessment and quotation.

FAQs are listed below:

What is the advantage of Combimate compared to other water treatment systems?

• Combimate is a widely recognised, proven hard water scale inhibitor that since its launch in 1987 has delivered protection to hundreds of thousands of homes.
• Combimate does not use magnets or any electricity in its anti limescale operation and is both easy to install with minimal maintenance.
• The product is also supported by a professional customer service team with first class technical and spares support.

Do I need a separate (non-treated) drinking supply?

No. Combimate is not a water softener; water softeners generally use salts so softened water requires a separate supply because of the increased salt content.

What do the Combiphos crystals do to the water?

Combiphos which, when in contact with water is released in very small quantities, is sufficient to keep the mineral ions in suspension. This action prevents the formation of scale while retaining the health benefits of the natural minerals contained in hard water.

Will it discolour my clothes?

No. Combiphos has no effect at all on fabrics.

Will Combimate protect my central heating system?

In a central heating system, Combimate will only protect the boiler via the mains water feed into the heat exchanger. However, the ‘closed loop’ of the heating system (radiators, pipework etc) is not protected. Combiphos coats the inside of the pipework, boiler heat exchanger and appliances with a non-residual, microscopic, protective coating to prevent scale-causing minerals from accumulating and aggressive soft water from corroding the system and appliances.

Does Combimate need maintenance?

Apart from the annual replacement of the Combiphos crystals, Combimate requires no other maintenance.

Does heat affect the Combimate?

Yes. If the Combimate is located in a warm environment (e.g an airing cupboard) or near a heat source, the Combiphos crystals will dissolve at a faster rate. Ideally Combimate should be installed at room temperature with a cold water supply, located at least 450mm from any appliance or local heat source to prevent water in the dome from warming and accelerating the dissolution of the Combiphos.

Can I replace the Combiphos crystals myself?

Yes. Replacing the Combiphos is easy if the procedure is correctly followed or refer to the owner’s manual supplied with the Combimate unit.

Do I need a plumber to fit the Combimate unit?

Fitting the combimate requires a basic competency level of plumbing skills and equipment. However, for peace of mind we recommend a professional plumber installs the product.

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