How do magnetic limescale inhibitors work?

Magnetic limescale inhibitors work to stop minerals in hard water adhering to pipes but when it comes to their effectiveness they get mixed reviews.


Asked by: Ron Barnes, Kings Lynn

Read any DIY forum online and you’ll find mixed views about whether these actually work. I have one on the pipes to my boiler and I’m not convinced either. Though to be fair, it was fitted after the heat exchanger had already accrued some scale. The theory is that as tiny lime and salt crystals pass through the magnetic field, they stick to each other rather than accumulating in the pipes.



Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.