What is Scale? | Calcium Issues, pt. 1

Author: Eric Knight
Published: Wed 08 Dec 2021
Episode Link: https://www.orendatech.com

00:00 - Intro

01:57 - Definition of scale: Scale is the hardened deposit of a calcium compound that has precipitated out of solution.

02:30 - Analogy of sugar in a drink. This analogy explains the difference between the saturation of calcium carbonate (LSI), and the amount of calcium carbonate (calcium hardness).

06:33 - Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is the most common form of scale, by far. But there are other forms of scale: calcium silica, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, and probably some other obscure ones we have yet to encounter. They are more difficult to deal with.

12:35 - The same amount of 'sugar' (calcium carbonate) can be too much, too little, or just right, depending on other factors in the LSI. The key here is that scale falls out of solution when the water is oversaturated. Carbonate scale occurs over +0.30 LSI.

16:10 - When you see scale in your pool, it will always be in the hottest places first. In the case of carbonate scale, it will be in the highest-LSI areas first. Primarily a salt cell or heater. Flakes in salt cells occur because of a localized LSI violation in the salt cell.

22:08 - If scale is not on plastic fittings, the face of tile, lights, etc., it's not scale. It must have come from the cement, not the water.

25:46 - To chelate or sequester, the water needs to be warm enough (~65ºF or warmer), or else the chemicals will not activate. The warmer the water, the faster these chemicals work.

29:06 - How to remove scale

32:28 - Summary. Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for the next four episodes in this series of calcium issues.

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Connect with Orenda Technologies

Website: https://www.orendatech.com