UK boiler scrappage scheme will boost sales of water softeners

The recently introduced boiler scrappage in the UK will have a significant impact on the sale of residential water softeners. One of the key requirements listed in the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide 2008 (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_PTL_DOMHEAT.pdf) states - 'Where the mains total water hardness exceeds 200 parts per million, provision should be made to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit of combination boilers to reduce the accumulation of limescale.' The boiler scrappage scheme is mainly aimed at getting households to install energy efficient boilers and benefit by saving close to £200 annually in energy bills. As part of the scheme, close to 125,000 households will receive £400 to replace their inefficient boilers.

Close to 70 percent of the UK is faced with the problem of water hardness and reports from the Drinking Water Inspectorate indicate that majority of eastern and southern UK is plagued with water hardness in excess of 200 ppm and therefore any replacement of an existing boiler or installation of a new boiler will almost certainly need the installation of a water softener to comply with the Domestic Heating Compliance Guide 2008.