Nottingham Trent University gas water heaters

Nottingham Trent University has successfully treated its hot water system and removed scale from Hamworthy direct-fired gas water heaters at two of the University''s Halls of Residence.

Prior to the first units being installed at The Maltings Hall of Residence an ENiGMA Engineer conducted a site survey. He determined that the water supply had a total water hardness of around 300 ppm which had resulted in limescale being produced, causing the water heaters to "kettle".

In addition, the showerheads frequently scaled up, necessitating regular descaling, and the safety valve became encrusted with limescale whereby it frequently malfunctioned, discharging water when it reached critical temperature.

The increasing scale resulted in higher energy and maintenance overheads. The Estates Department was also concerned that the scale deposition provided a potential breeding ground for water borne bacterial infections.

To resolve the problems, an ENiGMA unit was installed onto the water supply feeding both Hamworthy water heaters and a further unit fitted to the secondary hot water return.

Keith Stone, Estate Services Manager, quickly noted that the scale in the boilers was dispersing, the showers no longer scaled up and scale around the safety valve was softening and was able to be wiped away.

Such was the success of the ENiGMA system that when a bank of three Hamworthy direct gas fired water heaters in Simpsons Hall of Residence also began to "kettle", Keith Stone had no hesitation in arranging for further units to be installed onto the water supply and secondary hot water return.