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CHOICE OF DESCALING CHEMICAL AND 
QUANTITY REQUIRED:

If the cooling coil is made of steel, or 
stainless steel, use either SCALEBREAKER 
SR or SCALEBREAKER FX, dependent on 
the type of fouling. Scalebreaker FX will 
remove both hard water deposits and 
corrosion deposits, whilst Scalebreaker 
SR is effective  only on hard water scale. 
SCALEBREAKER HD may be used with 
copper coils, but should not be left in 
circuit for more than two hours.
Do not use SCALEBREAKER HD with 
stainless steel.

Calculate the amount of descaling 

chemical required. As a guide, if 
the volume of water in the cooling 
circuit is approximately 100 litres, 
use 10 litres descaling chemical (i.e. a 
10% solution by volume).  A weaker 
solution may be used, but will take 
longer to remove a given amount of 
scale.

Heat may be applied into the coil, if 

practicable, or it may be possible to 
start descaling when the water in 
the coil is still warm, to a maximum 
of 50

o

C, and this will speed up 

descaling.

NB. When descaling with any acid, 

some hydrogen gas may be evolved. 
Hydrogen is a flammable gas, and 
the working area should be well 
ventilated. Avoid smoking nearby, 
or any other means of ignition.

PROCEDURE

1. Ensure an adequate water supply 

to dilute or neutralise any chemical 
leaks, or the spent descaling 
chemical, so that disposal does not 
contravene local regulations. 

2. Isolate water inlet and outlet 

connections to the cooling coil, 
capping them off if necessary.

3. Couple flow and return hoses from 

descaling pump to the water inlet 
and outlet of the cooling coil to be 
descaled. 

4. If it is anticipated that descaling 

is to be a routine maintenance 
procedure, consider installing valved 
tee-pieces in the flow and return 
connections to the coil, terminating 
in 1/2” or 3/4” BSP male threads. This 
will enable immediate coupling of 
the descaling pump across the coil 

whenever descaling is required.

5. The pump connection to the lowest 

connection onto the cooling coil 
should be through a valve, as a 
precaution. Failing this, if the 
descaling pump is mounted below 
the coil, power failure to the pump 
would result in the head of water  
overflowing the pump tank, unless 
prevented by closing the valve.

(Scalebreaker  FWF models have integral 

valves suitable for this.)

 6. Connections should be made so that 

there is a closed circuit between 
the pump output hose, through the 
cooling coil to the return hose.

7. Venting of the carbon dioxide gas 

evolved during descaling is achieved 
through the pump tank filler cap 
aperture. The cap should be screwed 
on by no more than one quarter of 
a turn. This is sufficient to vent the 
gas, but at the same time reduces 
fumes and prevents splashes.

8. Connect the pump to a suitable  

earthed power supply. As the pump 
will be used in a damp location, a 
residual current circuit breaker plug 
should be used.

9. The flow reverser handle points in 

the direction of flow of the liquid.  If 
the handle points towards the hose 
connected onto the normal water 
inlet connection to the coil, that 
will be the direction in which the 
descaling pump will pump, and the 
other hose will then be the return to 
the pump tank.

10.  Prior to adding descaling chemical 

to pump tank, first ‘prove’ the circuit 
with fresh water alone. Add water 
to pump tank to approx. 4” (10cm) 
above minimum liquid level, switch 
on descaling pump, and immediately 

Kamco Limited

Unit 9, Curo Park, Frogmore, St Albans. AL2 2DD. United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1727 875020    Fax: +44 (o)1727 875335

E-mail: [email protected]     www.kamco.co.uk

Guidance notes on descaling cooling coils

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