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Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

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  • #16
    Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

    Originally posted by JavaB link=1164865682/0#14 date=1164884678
    Greg,

    That white stuff is the "soft" form of scale.... with constant heat etc it turns into the dark steel gray solid stuff.... in extreme cases (like the innards of Javas boiler) you can almost chisel it out!!
    Can? You mean did, or at least tried too! : ;D I was able to pop off pieces where the edge had lifted but that was it. Pure chemistry for the rest! That picture is what I found when I opened it up. I hadnt done anything to try and loosen/remove any scale yet at that point.

    For a point of reference for the size of the scale flakes in there the end of the boiler is roughly 20cm in diameter.

    Oh, another side note. If you live in an area with a high iron content in the water the scale will be redder. The higher the iron content, the redder the scale.


    Java "No more scale!" phile
    Toys! I must have new toys!!!

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

      My EM6900 has a calcium filiter built into the water tank...maybee overkill given the stainless steel lined thermos, but I like overkill.

      Cheers

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

        Originally posted by ozscott link=1164865682/15#16 date=1164889791
        My EM6900 has a calcium filiter built into the water tank...maybee overkill given the stainless steel lined thermos, but I like overkill.

        Cheers
        Nope , definately not overkill.... you saw what happened to Javas boiler- and that is stainless steel!!!

        Scale will build up on any surface - including glass.

        Remember to change the filter - they dont last long and if you dont your thermoblock can look like the inside of Javas boiler - but its effect will be worse far faster (blocked themo tubes!!)

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

          Whats the recommended changing schedule.
          I use Britad water.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

            Thundergod....

            I dont know what it would be for this filter...it is generally quoted as so many litres of water passing through.

            It should be stated in the manual, if not Id ring Sunbeam and find their recommendation....

            You can afford to have a mm or two of scale inside a 20cm boiler or even a 7cm one ---- but inside a tube of only a few mm diameter---- not good (initially it will reduce the heating and the flow of water or steam- eventually block totally).

            Brita water helps a bit but mainly removes chlorine, heavy metals, and other nasties.... isnt all that effective at removing calcium from what Ive read (neither are the undersink cartridge filters)

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            • #21
              Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

              Ill find out then as I know roughly how much water is passing through.

              Thanks.

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              • #22
                Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                FYI It took over 10 years of using straight city tap water (on the softer side of the hardness scale) in a low volume commercial setting to build up that much scale.


                Java "Off the scale" phile
                Toys! I must have new toys!!!

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                  Just checked on the Brita filter site...

                  It "reduces" the white deposit when water is boiled but they dont recommend it for use in steam irons .....

                  I noticed when I was using Brita water in a stainless steel kettle (boiled a couple of times a day) I had a "noticeable" deposit on the walls of the kettle within a month - gave it the citric acid treatment every month... and all was good again.

                  Perth water (like a lot in Australia) is on the wrong end of the hardness scale.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                    Doesnt running the proper cleaning solution through once a month for a home machine to the trick - I do that and use the backflush tabs in the filter basket, blind.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                      Originally posted by ozscott link=1164865682/15#23 date=1164896665
                      Doesnt running the proper cleaning solution through once a month for a home machine to the trick - I do that and use the backflush tabs in the filter basket, blind.
                      Yep, the proper cleaning solution (which is normally dilute citric acid - with a price markup ) - should remove any scale deposit as long as the recommended proceedure is followed....

                      But its still worth replacing the filter at the recommended interval - its been put there for a reason - a bit of insurance is worth it!

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                        Hey JB,

                        Just as a matter of interest, what could one expect to pay for a "rechargeable" water softener of the type you are referring to, limited for use with the espresso machine?

                        Mal.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                          Originally posted by Thundergod link=1164865682/15#18 date=1164891908
                          Whats the recommended changing schedule.
                          I use Britad water.
                          If your filters are the same style as mine theyre supposed to be good for 120-150 litres, or 6-8 weeks they say, but that obviously depends on consumption.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                            Originally posted by Mal link=1164865682/15#25 date=1164910801
                            Hey JB,

                            Just as a matter of interest, what could one expect to pay for a "rechargeable" water softener of the type you are referring to, limited for use with the espresso machine?

                            Mal.
                            Mal,

                            FC sells new softeners of both types, as do most professional coffee machine dealers. Mine came with my machine and even though the machine was 17 years old- and used heavily in a hard water area- the interior of the boiler was very clean.

                            You can also get them second hand from those same commercial machine dealers (I know where there are quite a few here in Perth - hopefully the firm will be a site sponsor soon - hint, hint!! )

                            Price, I dont know- but they sure work well and are really cheap and easy to maintain. And tea drinkers really appreciate the far improved taste which softened water provides.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                              Originally posted by Greg Pullman link=1164865682/15#26 date=1164924641
                              Originally posted by Thundergod link=1164865682/15#18 date=1164891908
                              Whats the recommended changing schedule.
                              I use Britad water.
                              If your filters are the same style as mine theyre supposed to be good for 120-150 litres, or 6-8 weeks they say, but that obviously depends on consumption.
                              Thanks Greg.
                              Now to do the math on litres consumed as its been about 12 weeks.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Repairmans swarf tray A.K.A. Silvia boiler

                                Originally posted by JavaB link=1164865682/15#27 date=1164926694
                                Mine came with my machine and even though the machine was 17 years old- and used heavily in a hard water area- the interior of the boiler was very clean.
                                Hmmm,

                                Thanks JB..... Sounds like a very worthwhile addition to the filter system Im putting in. Are they a very bulky item, i.e. would I be able to install it under the sink?

                                Mal.

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