Softened Water thru Loop ?

[verdigrey]

Hi Guys , I have noticed that Worcester Bosch recomend that you dont fill a Sealed system from a softened water supply . I didnt know this and have just piped up an extension and to a new Oil system boiler . The cold mains to Boiler location is going to be softened water , from a proper Softener that uses Salt to regenerate .
I wonder if WB think that there could be a Trace of sodium in the water that could some how damage the Boiler . I think it is very unlikely there would be enough salt to do any harm , but I dont know what to do now .
Gratefull for your thoughts .

 

[ShaunCorbs]

needs to be un-softened water as there could be a reaction with the aluminum heat cell

 

[mfgs]

The warranty wont be valid if you have used softened water, the ally heat exchangers don't like it and apparently leak within about a year with softened water.

 

[gassafe]

Do the oil boilers have Ali in!?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do the oil boilers have Ali in!?

think they do else it wouldnt matter if its softened or not

 

[gassafe]

think they do else it wouldnt matter if its softened or not

I think Worcester recommend hard water anyway, it's an old recommendation or something?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I think Worcester recommend hard water anyway, it's an old recommendation or something?

yes the only boilers i know of have stainless steel heat exchangers

"It is possible to have an ion exchange water softener fitted to the cold water system of the property. However, the boiler requires an untreated cold water connection taken from the mains supply, before the water softener, to the primary water filling point of the heating system.
Alternatively there are water softening/treatment devices that do not adjust or alter the pH levels of the water. With these devices it may not be necessary to provide an untreated water by-pass to the primary water filling point of the heat system."

 

[verdigrey]

Okay thanks for your help guys , I quess I had better run a new pipe thru to the Boiler location with Raw water , just to be on the safe side .

 

[mfgs]

Okay thanks for your help guys , I quess I had better run a new pipe thru to the Boiler location with Raw water , just to be on the safe side .

That is what I have always done for a Worcester where there is a water softener in place.

 

[Leo21]

Can't you put a water hardener in?

 

[kozak1968]

Turn the softener on bypass and draw raw water through. Then fiĺl the heating. The only problems being that the pipework layout may not allow all the soft water to be cleared.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Turn the softener on bypass and draw raw water through. Then fiĺl the heating. The only problems being that the pipework layout may not allow all the soft water to be cleared.

But then the home owner can still fill the system with someone softened water if he forgets

 

[gassafe]

But then the home owner can still fill the system with someone softened water if he forgets

I don't think a small top up would hurt, the initial fill maybe!

I put a label on the boilers fascia to operate the bypass & run hot rap etc prior to topping up, plus one on the Worcester charge key, or header tank etc! Pretty hard to forget then!

 

[kozak1968]

Yes that can be a problem, just disconnect the filling loop, customers shouldn't play with things they know nothing about.

But then the home owner can still fill the system with someone softened water if he forgets