Cleanable shower head

sydthebeat

I've a huge problem with hard water and the resultant deposits within the shower unit. I get the element cleaned regularly by a Bro in law but I still inevitably get deposits coming down the house and clogging up the shower head.
I used to be able to get shower heads with removable faces that I could clean, but these seem to be impossible to get days.

Does any one know of such a product and where I'd get one please?

DGOBS

Why not look at getting an aquabion water softener installed

sydthebeat

DGOBS wrote: »

Why not look at getting an aquabion water softener installed

Just had a read up on that product. Very interesting. Any idea how much it is, and how easy is it to fit?

Thank you

Sleeper12

sydthebeat wrote: »

I've a huge problem with hard water and the resultant deposits within the shower unit. I get the element cleaned regularly by a Bro in law but I still inevitably get deposits coming down the house and clogging up the shower head.
I used to be able to get shower heads with removable faces that I could clean, but these seem to be impossible to get days.

Does any one know of such a product and where I'd get one please?

http://dublinshowerrepair.com/showerparts/product/triton-t90-shower-head/

Descaling the element is a waste of time as you already know if the shower head is getting blocked

As DGOBS pointed out a water softening system is the way forward long term. They pay for themselves as you will get longer out of washing machine, dishwasher, hot water cylinder element & electric showers. These appliances will be cheaper to run if limescale free.

Sorry I havent a clue on their price

BaronyOfIda

Aquabion distributed by Highway Wholesalers - hwl.ie Email or call them for RRP through your local Plumbers Merchants.
They also do a showerhead that is resistant to limescale buildup called Pulse Eco Shower; it's all on their website.

Sleeper12

BaronyOfIda wrote: »

Aquabion distributed by Highway Wholesalers - hwl.ie Email or call them for RRP through your local Plumbers Merchants.
They also do a showerhead that is resistant to limescale buildup called Pulse Eco Shower; it's all on their website.

This is not suitable for an electric shower. If it's not an electric shower then it's fine but an electric shower needs a shower head designed for an electric shower.

BaronyOfIda

Sleeper12 wrote: »

This is not suitable for an electric shower. If it's not an electric shower then it's fine but an electric shower needs a shower head designed for an electric shower.

You've highlighted Aquabion as being unsuitable for electric showers but I think you meant Pulse Eco Showers.

Just to clarify; Aquabion is an inline Electrolytic plumbing fitting that gives whole-of-house protection against limescale including to Electric Showers. Strictly speaking, it's not a Water Softener as it doesn't remove scale from the water, it doesn't reduce the 'hardness' of the water but it does prevent the scale from sticking to pipes and heating elements etc.

Pulse Eco Showers are water-saving shower heads that happen to be limescale resistant too. The big savings on water usage are when used with tank-fed or thermostatic showers, less so with Electric showers which are usually regulated to push a fixed volume of liters/minute. However, the Limescale resistant properties of the Pulse Eco Shower hold for all types of showers including Electric showers.

El Tarangu

Plastic bag full of vinegar, taped around the showerhead and left for a few hours, would that work?

Kathnora

Aquabion useless in my opinion...got it in 4 years ago. It turns the lime in a fine powdery substance in the kettle. Mine is out of guarantee at this stage and I regret not kicking up a fuss over it!! It did not solve my lime problem...full stop.

cubix

IF your just looking to stop the limescale getting into the shower head and the pain in the face that then in sues getting it out find an old washing machine inlet filter and fit inside the shower head inlet. When it clogs up it is easily removed and cleaned. Have this on a Mira shower head and works a treat

sydthebeat

cubix wrote: »

IF your just looking to stop the limescale getting into the shower head and the pain in the face that then in sues getting it out find an old washing machine inlet filter and fit inside the shower head inlet. When it clogs up it is easily removed and cleaned. Have this on a Mira shower head and works a treat

i often wondering if there was some product i could fit in line from the shower to the head, that seems like something that might work .. thanks!

on the vinegar cleaning, im afraid the limescale that comes from the shower is way beyond the level that can be cleaned with vineger... at least twice weekly i "clean" the hose by turning the shower on full heat for a few seconds, then right down to coldest and shaking the hose..... youd be amazed with the size and amount of what comes out.... the bottom of the bath looks like someone just had a shower after coming from the beach.... ill take a pic next time.... and some times ill get a chunk of scale 2-3 mm dia come from it.

i know a softener is the best option, but that might just have to take a while to save for.

Triton used to do a shower head that had a round "key" device to screw the face off the shower head, that was very useful for cleaning. I cant seem to find such a product any more.

Sleeper12

sydthebeat wrote: »

i often wondering if there was some product i could fit in line from the shower to the head, that seems like something that might work .. thanks!

on the vinegar cleaning, im afraid the limescale that comes from the shower is way beyond the level that can be cleaned with vineger... at least twice weekly i "clean" the hose by turning the shower on full heat for a few seconds, then right down to coldest and shaking the hose..... youd be amazed with the size and amount of what comes out.... the bottom of the bath looks like someone just had a shower after coming from the beach.... ill take a pic next time.... and some times ill get a chunk of scale 2-3 mm dia come from it.

i know a softener is the best option, but that might just have to take a while to save for.

Triton used to do a shower head that had a round "key" device to screw the face off the shower head, that was very useful for cleaning. I cant seem to find such a product any more.

This was discontinued as they kept breaking & were quite heavy on the shower head holder.
The shower head below replaces your old Triton shower head. It comes apart easily for cleaning
https://www.woodies.ie/triton-8000-series-5-spray-shower-head-white-1111197?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5LbWBRDCARIsALAbcOc5wYibchZfdsH7ZKplQT2CLYo7PEYXy32-YJ-P9q2YzQmiZtAuSrkaApGgEALw_wcB


Long term a water softening system is the way to go. I have a client in Balbriggan who needed to replace the shower element every year at a cost of 150. This week she's getting a water softening system costing 750. I'm going to replace the element on Friday. It's the last one she'll ever replace due to limescale. The shower, immersion, kettle, dishwasher & washing machine will all be cheaper to run too

BaronyOfIda

Kathnora wrote: »

Aquabion useless in my opinion...got it in 4 years ago. It turns the lime in a fine powdery substance in the kettle. Mine is out of guarantee at this stage and I regret not kicking up a fuss over it!! It did not solve my lime problem...full stop.

Don't know how I missed this comment back in April! As I have said already on this thread, Aquabion is not designed to remove scale from kettles so if that was your aim then it probably wasn't for you.
However, if on the other hand you want your hot water system protected from the effects of scale, Aquabion IS a very good solution.
Regarding your kettle, don't forget if you install a water softener in your property, you are supposed to leave the drinking water tap UNCONNECTED to the softener i.e. the water you fill your kettle with will be harder on your kettle than Aquabion treated water.
Best to install a dedicated limescale filter tap on your kitchen sink but be prepared to change the element every few months.