Hard Water & Magnets

[Lane]

Anyone ever try using those magnets sold to eliminate hard water problems? You've seen the ads; they are cased in red plastic blocks and clamp around your water pipe. Claims are impressive.

 

[billboe]

Never heard of them, but, from your description, they sound too good to be true!

We have a softener that takes care of hard water as well as a good amount of iron (the soluble type)...


Billboe

 

[Lane]

Do a Google search for "hard water + magnets" and tons of sites like; http://www.conditionwater.com/gmx/applications.html appear. I've heard of these for years and like you they get my attention. Need to hear from users... Some TBN'ers must have tried these?

 

[MikePA]

I have a Scale Ban which I think is similar. There are multiple small gauge wire wrappings (about 3 inches worth) around the water pipe just downstream of our pressure tank. These wires lead to a 'box' (about the size of a paperback book) with flashing lights. To be honest, I have no clue whether or not it's doing as claimed. The 'problem' with these devices is there's no easy way for the homeowner to verify they're doing anything except for the subjective feeling of the water in a shower or how much less detergent used to wash clothes. Since it does not remove the hardness, any water that evaporates, such as in a tub or faucet, still leaves a deposit. This is also why standard water hardness tests do not register any difference. If I had to do it all over again, I'd get a water softener.

 

[mbjacobs]

Save your money.

http://www.sfu.ca/chemcai/magscams/magscams.html

Maury Jacobs

 

[bgott]

WOW!!! At the bottom of this webpage is an ad for a magnetic cup. Y'all need to read all the benefits of the magnetic cup! I bet MChalkley didn't realize that his cup was good for other things than keeping his coffee on the fender of his tractor!

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>At the bottom of this webpage is an ad for a magnetic cup.</font color=blue>

Wow!!! No wonder I've been feeling so healthy lately! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Near as I can tell from the ad, though, my English will be deteriorating soon. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[GlennT]

The different uses of magnets and their relative values are very controversial. A neighbor put in a rainwater collection system and treats his water using a number of filters, ultraviolet light, AND a couple of shiny magnets strapped to the pipe. We had a carpenter do some work for us who had a bracelet with small magnets on it. You can buy necklaces with magnets, belts with magnets, corsets with magnets, ankel wraps with magnets, shoes with magnets, seat covers with magnets, mattresses with magnets, etc. Perhaps you've noticed the ads with magnets that you wrap around the gas line on your car to give you increased gas mileage? The position of the federal government after extensive testing is that if the magnets do perform as claimed, the performance is so slight that it is not measurable. However, many people swear by them, so "You pays your money and you takes your chances."

 

[MChalkley]

bgott - And all along I thought the reason I feel better when I'm using the tractor regularly had something to do with the tractor - now I know it's the magnetic water! Just goes to show how wrong you can be! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MarkC

 

[PitbullMidwest]

<font color=blue>However, many people swear by them, so "You pays your money and you takes your chances."</font color=blue>

I saw a doctor "debunking" magnets for health reasons on TLC once. Pretty simple to disprove. The magnetic field setup in these over-the-counter devices can't penetrate even a few sheets of paper let alone human skin, muscle and fat.

My grandma wore a copper braclet for 50+ years to ward off arthritis, still had it, but imagine how bad it would have been without the bracelet! Magnet therapy is snake oil pure and simple.

As to removing farris metals from water with magnets? Wouldn't the deposits that are extracted eventually clog the pipe or are we talking alchemy here?