Hello everyone,
We renovated a detached house built in 1939 and moved in April 2021. Since then, we have been frustrated with the water softening system installed in November 2020 by Permatrade (permasolvent primus 2.0).
At the time, we told our plumber that we were considering a water softener because of the hard water (12 German degrees of hardness). The system was supposed to soften the water and especially reduce the limescale, which we had already dealt with constantly in our old apartment.
Shortly after, he installed the system mentioned above without further consultation and praised it highly, so as laypeople, we accepted this.
Already one month after moving in, we noticed persistent limescale stains everywhere, and the water hardness did not change. We were advised to give the system a few more weeks to fully settle in, but the problem remained: we still had to descale the kettle frequently and clean surfaces regularly. So, in summer 2021, we asked the plumber to remove the system.
Since then, we have been having issues with both the system and the plumber. Despite repeated reminders, he has not followed through and now openly refuses to remove the system. He also admitted he is not familiar with this system. According to him, the system produces "good limescale" that does not damage appliances, but limescale is limescale, and we still have the cleaning hassle. In autumn, he promised us a credit in writing under pressure, but now he wants to withdraw that offer. His only proposal is to put us in touch with a Permatrade field service representative.
I feel taken advantage of and have heard that this system might be prone to faults. Can anyone advise whether this system is suitable for our house or how to proceed? We live in a rural area, so my husband does not want to upset the plumber (he is the only one here), but I am close to consulting a lawyer. However, I only want to do that if the system is indeed unsuitable.
We renovated a detached house built in 1939 and moved in April 2021. Since then, we have been frustrated with the water softening system installed in November 2020 by Permatrade (permasolvent primus 2.0).
At the time, we told our plumber that we were considering a water softener because of the hard water (12 German degrees of hardness). The system was supposed to soften the water and especially reduce the limescale, which we had already dealt with constantly in our old apartment.
Shortly after, he installed the system mentioned above without further consultation and praised it highly, so as laypeople, we accepted this.
Already one month after moving in, we noticed persistent limescale stains everywhere, and the water hardness did not change. We were advised to give the system a few more weeks to fully settle in, but the problem remained: we still had to descale the kettle frequently and clean surfaces regularly. So, in summer 2021, we asked the plumber to remove the system.
Since then, we have been having issues with both the system and the plumber. Despite repeated reminders, he has not followed through and now openly refuses to remove the system. He also admitted he is not familiar with this system. According to him, the system produces "good limescale" that does not damage appliances, but limescale is limescale, and we still have the cleaning hassle. In autumn, he promised us a credit in writing under pressure, but now he wants to withdraw that offer. His only proposal is to put us in touch with a Permatrade field service representative.
I feel taken advantage of and have heard that this system might be prone to faults. Can anyone advise whether this system is suitable for our house or how to proceed? We live in a rural area, so my husband does not want to upset the plumber (he is the only one here), but I am close to consulting a lawyer. However, I only want to do that if the system is indeed unsuitable.
Hello _Oscar_,
the Permatrade devices only work effectively with a continuous high flow of water. Longer periods of inactivity or stagnation, as well as typical household water usage levels, cause the loss of the charge imparted to the water as it passes through the devices. This means that the adhesion of hardness-forming minerals cannot be avoided.
The Permatrade system works very well as a central unit at the main water inlet of an apartment building or public facilities such as swimming pools or hospitals.
the Permatrade devices only work effectively with a continuous high flow of water. Longer periods of inactivity or stagnation, as well as typical household water usage levels, cause the loss of the charge imparted to the water as it passes through the devices. This means that the adhesion of hardness-forming minerals cannot be avoided.
The Permatrade system works very well as a central unit at the main water inlet of an apartment building or public facilities such as swimming pools or hospitals.
PhiIipp schrieb:
Hello _Oskar_,
unfortunately, the Permatrade devices only work effectively with a high, continuous water flow. Longer periods of inactivity or stagnation, as well as typical household water volumes, lead to a loss of the charging effect that the device imparts to the water during flow. This means that scaling cannot be fully prevented.
The Permatrade system works very well as a central unit at the main water supply of multi-family buildings or public facilities such as swimming pools or hospitals.Thank you, that already helps me a lot! We are a small household and tend to use water sparingly, sometimes not at all for several days, so it seems this device might not be very suitable for us.
Ysop*** schrieb:
Then I would suggest: read the user manual and check it out 🙂 There are testing kits available that let you measure the hardness level of the water. Our system (though it was BWT) even came with one. Instead of relying on a gut feeling, you can make it measurable!As mentioned before, the hardness level was 12 and it still is, despite the system.
_Oskar_ schrieb:
As mentioned above, the water hardness level was 12 before, and it is still the same despite the system installation.Yes, it cannot be otherwise because the system does not remove hardness minerals from the water; instead, it changes their structure. The hardness level before the system is always the same as after. This structural change is intended to bind the hardness minerals and prevent or reduce scaling _within_ the system.
The manufacturer states that this system does not prevent limescale buildup on taps or inside kettles.
What you actually need is a descaling system or water softener.
Similar topics