Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - Scaleblaster - Electronic Water Conditioner/Descaler
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ecarlin
10-06-09, 11:52 PM
We're building a house in San Antonio (water hardness around 15 to 20 gpg). I was pitched a Scaleblaster (http://www.scaleblaster.com/) in lieu of a traditional water softener. I am a computer engineer and trained to be skeptical, so I have been doing some research. Here's what I am finding:
1. These devices do not soften water in the traditional manner where calcium ions are exchanged for sodium. They instead (claim to) use oscillating electric fields to agitate the calcium and bicarbonate ions, causing them to form calcium carbonate crystals that won't "stick" to the pipes. They don't remove anything, they just (claim to) alter it in a way that it no longer causes scale. As such, they are better classified as conditioners or descalers.
2. People in general tend to be skeptical about electronic conditioners/descalers. This isn't surprising since it's a non-traditional tech so that doesn't bother me. I am more interested in quantifiable data around this specific device than I am in opinions that "I've seen those things before and they don't work."
3. The Scaleblaster seems to be the most credible of these kinds of devices. Some people claim that the results of these devices are purely qualitative and empirical based on "testimonies" but they have devoted a section of their website (http://www.scaleblaster.com/TheScaleBlasterScience.aspx) to the science behind their tech. There are two docs in particular that look compelling: Principles of Scale (http://www.scaleblaster.com/Downloads/scaleblaster%20new.ppt) and 3rd party test lab report (http://www.scaleblaster.com/Downloads/SB%20Test%20Final%20Report%2010_18_06.pdf).
That said, I don't know enough about this or remember enough about chemistry to vet their claims.
Is there someone qualified (and interested enough) to review the two docs above (and any other data on their site), and let me know your opinion on the science?
I'm also interested to hear feedback from anyone who has experience with Scaleblasters (again, not interested if you haven't used these specific devices). Do they actually work in preventing scale? If they do work, what are the downsides over a traditional water softener?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Erik Carlin
1. These devices do not soften water in the traditional manner where calcium ions are exchanged for sodium. They instead (claim to) use oscillating electric fields to agitate the calcium and bicarbonate ions, causing them to form calcium carbonate crystals that won't "stick" to the pipes. They don't remove anything, they just (claim to) alter it in a way that it no longer causes scale. As such, they are better classified as conditioners or descalers.
2. People in general tend to be skeptical about electronic conditioners/descalers. This isn't surprising since it's a non-traditional tech so that doesn't bother me. I am more interested in quantifiable data around this specific device than I am in opinions that "I've seen those things before and they don't work."
3. The Scaleblaster seems to be the most credible of these kinds of devices. Some people claim that the results of these devices are purely qualitative and empirical based on "testimonies" but they have devoted a section of their website (http://www.scaleblaster.com/TheScaleBlasterScience.aspx) to the science behind their tech. There are two docs in particular that look compelling: Principles of Scale (http://www.scaleblaster.com/Downloads/scaleblaster%20new.ppt) and 3rd party test lab report (http://www.scaleblaster.com/Downloads/SB%20Test%20Final%20Report%2010_18_06.pdf).
That said, I don't know enough about this or remember enough about chemistry to vet their claims.
Is there someone qualified (and interested enough) to review the two docs above (and any other data on their site), and let me know your opinion on the science?
I'm also interested to hear feedback from anyone who has experience with Scaleblasters (again, not interested if you haven't used these specific devices). Do they actually work in preventing scale? If they do work, what are the downsides over a traditional water softener?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Erik Carlin