PHAM NEWS | NOVEMBER 2026 36 Water& System Treatment


Inside an electrolytic anti-scale device


Limescale build-up can compromise system effi ciency and heat transfer. Stephen Elsmore from Altecnic takes a closer look inside Caleffi ’s eCAL to explore how its three-stage technology helps tackle scale formation.


L


imescale can cause signifi cant problems within domestic water systems. It forms


when calcium carbonate is deposited as calcite, creating a hard, adhesive layer that can build up within pipework and on heat exchangers. Over time, these deposits can restrict waterways and act as a barrier to heat transfer, contributing to increased energy consumption and reduced system performance. Electrolytic anti-scale


technology off ers a diff erent approach to managing this problem. Rather than using chemical substances or removing the minerals responsible for water hardness, it alters the way calcium carbonate crystallises, helping to limit the formation of hard, adhesive scale while preserving the characteristics of potable water. The Caleffi eCAL combines


this electrolytic process with 50 μm fi ltration and magnetic separation, providing continuous protection for domestic water systems and connected equipment. Installed directly on the domestic cold-


steel fi lter mesh. The fi lter mechanically retains impurities according to their particle size. Its large surface area also


makes the fi lter less prone to clogging, while the fl ow through the mesh creates turbulence as the water moves towards the next stage of treatment. From here, the fi ltered water


is directed towards the lower section of the device, where magnetic separation takes place.


Stephen Elsmore Senior technical support at Altecnic


water pipe, it operates without chemicals or electricity while maintaining the water’s hardness level. But what actually happens


to the water once it enters the device? Taking a look inside the eCAL reveals how each stage works together to tackle limescale before it becomes a problem.


Mesh fi lter The fi rst stage begins as water enters the eCAL and passes through a 50 μm stainless


Integrated magnet Once fi ltered, the water is channelled towards the bottom of the eCAL, where an integrated magnet captures and retains ferromagnetic impurities. The magnet does not come into direct contact with the water, helping to make cleaning and maintenance more straightforward. At the bottom of the device,


the fl ow is reversed, ensuring all the water is directed into the electrolytic cartridge for the next stage of treatment. This combination of


mechanical fi ltration and magnetic separation means impurities are addressed before the water reaches the part of the device responsible for anti-scale treatment.


Internal fi lter mesh


Electrolytic cartridge The fi nal stage takes place as the water passes through the centre of the electrolytic cartridge and comes into contact with a series of Cu alloy-Zn/Ti internal elements. The fl ow of water across these elements generates an electric potential diff erence through a battery eff ect, creating an electromagnetic fi eld that infl uences the crystal structure of the calcium and magnesium salts within the water. The shape of the internal


elements also creates a vortex eff ect, enhancing this process. Rather than calcium carbonate forming as hard, adhesive calcite, the electrolytic action encourages the formation of aragonite crystals instead. Crucially, this process requires no external electricity and does not alter the hardness of the water. The resulting microcrystals


remain suspended in the water rather than adhering to internal surfaces, allowing them to be carried through the system.


Integrated magnet


3 stages of protection Bringing the three stages together, the eCAL combines 50 μm mechanical fi ltration, magnetic separation and electrolytic anti-scale action within a single device. This allows it to tackle diff erent factors that can aff ect domestic water systems, from capturing impurities and ferromagnetic particles to limiting the formation of limescale. By helping to reduce the build-


Electrolytic cartridge


up of deposits within the system and connected equipment, this combined approach helps maintain heat exchange performance over time, while preserving the characteristics and hardness of potable water. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/56


Legionella in rented homes: the missing part of water treatment


Landlords must assess water hygiene risks in rented homes, but many don’t know where to start. Legionella expert Ken Millea looks at the requirements and how heating engineers can help.


same law. Every landlord in the UK has to have the legionella risk in a rented home assessed, whether it is a house, a fl at or a single room let in their own home. Yet most landlords have never heard of it, and some think they need a lab test.


Ken Millea Founder of DwellFlow


I


n commercial buildings, legionella control is a well-run discipline. Risk assessments, temperature monitoring and


water treatment are managed to HSE’s L8 code, usually by trained legionella risk assessors and water treatment specialists. Rented homes fall under the


Who can do it This is where homes diff er from commercial buildings. HSE says: “Most landlords can assess the risk themselves and do not need to be professionally trained or accredited.” If they don’t feel able to, HSE says “they can arrange for someone to do it on their behalf”. It doesn’t have to be a trained


legionella professional. But whoever does it still has to understand the risk and how an assessment works. That is the hard part for most people, and it is where an


assessment can miss the one home that is diff erent. HSE says testing the water is not


usually needed in a home, and the law does not require a legionella test certifi cate. What it asks for is an assessment of the risk. Temperature checks are part of that, and HSE is clear they are not the same thing as testing.


Taking the temperature HSE calls temperature the most reliable control: keep hot water hot, cold water cold, and keep it moving. Stored hot water should be at 60°C. A combi boiler lowers the risk further, because nothing is stored. Other measures include removing redundant pipework, a tight lid on any cold water tank, and fl ushing the system before a new tenant moves in.


Heating engineers already know


these things and see them every day. An assessment provides a reading at each tap, a photograph of what was found, and a list of anything to put right. HSE also says checks can be


made on visits such as gas safety checks or routine maintenance. The landlord needs the assessment done and doesn’t know how, and you are already at the property once a year for the gas safety record. Many fi rms charge £75 to £100 for an assessment.


Go with the fl ow That is why we built DwellFlow. It takes you through the assessment at the property, question by question, on your phone, and asks for the photos it needs. AI then writes the risk assessment, a sheet


for the tenant and the written scheme of control, in your fi rm’s name. The survey takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size and type of the water system. It covers the tenant’s part too.


HSE says tenants should be told not to turn the cylinder thermostat down, to clean the showerhead regularly, and to report hot water that isn’t heating properly. The tenant sheet tells them exactly that. Until 31 December 2026, a


fi rm’s fi rst 20 assessments are free. There is free legionella training for plumbers and gas engineers, with short videos and no sign-up, at: dwellfl ow.co.uk/ legionella-training-for-plumbers- and-gas-engineers. A version for commercial buildings is in development. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/57


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