Protect Your Boiler Warranty: Why Water Quality Checks are Essential in Horsham & Adur

Boiler Water Quality: My Advice as a Local Horsham Gas Engineer.

By Andrew Tyler, Prime Boiler Care.

As a gas engineer based right here in Horsham and covering the entire Horsham and Adur Districts—that’s everywhere from Southwater and Billingshurst to Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, and Steyning—I see a lot of heating systems. 

One thing that always surprises my customers is the critical link between their boiler warranty and the quality of the water inside their central heating system.

The Hidden Threat to Your Boiler Warranty in West Sussex.

Most homeowners in areas like Henfield or Pulborough don't realise that boiler manufacturers can, and often do, perform a system water quality check during a warranty repair call-out.

If your system water is outside the acceptable limits for pH level (too acidic or too alkaline), Total Hardness, or Electrical Conductivity (EC) / Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), they can refuse to honour the warranty!

This is a huge risk. 

If the engineer servicing your boiler in Southwick or Sompting isn't diligently checking and recording these levels, you could be unknowingly voiding your warranty. 

This is why it’s absolutely vital to choose an engineer who understands and consistently records the system’s pH level, EC/TDS, and Total Hardness in the boiler’s Benchmark logbook every single year. 

The manufacturer will also want proof that the water has been checked for things like iron oxide (magnetite) using a turbidity tube, and that proper water treatment measures have been maintained.

Getting the Balance Right: pH and System Metals.

The correct pH level is crucial for preventing corrosion and scaling inside your system. 

The pH tolerance needs to be suitable for all the different metals in your system, which can include mild steel, copper, and even aluminium in modern heat exchangers.

• Too high (alkaline) = more susceptible to scaling.

• Too low (acidic) = more susceptible to corrosion.

Here at Prime Boiler Care, we aim for the heating system water pH value to be between 8.2 and 10. 

If your boiler has an aluminium heat exchanger (common in newer models), we target a slightly tighter range of pH 8.2 to 9. 

We use a professional pH meter and also check the Total Hardness via a calcium carbonate test. 

We’re also looking for a low Electrical Conductivity, ideally between 50 to 100 microsiemens per Centimeter (us/cm), which indicates high oxygen tolerance.

Local Water Quality Issues: Protecting Your Combi Boiler.

We know the water supply around the Horsham and Adur areas well. 

If your incoming mains water here in Storrington or Shoreham shows a high Total Hardness (anything over 170ppm is considered hard), you need to take action. 

If you have a Combi Boiler and your mains water is over 200ppm, a Scale Reducer must be fitted to the cold mains feed—we recommend an Electrolytic Scale Reducer to protect the appliance.

A critical warning: Never fill your central heating system with softened water unless the pH level has been professionally controlled, as this can severely damage your boiler and is a common way to void the warranty with many manufacturers.

Our Advanced Water Treatment Process.

When we service or install a boiler, our commitment is to the long-term health of your system. 

If we find sedimentary materials like magnetite (iron oxide) in your system, we’ll advise a de-sludge, which may involve a hot flush, chemical flush, or power-flush. 

We only use quality, safe, detergent-based chemicals for flushing.

We highly recommend fitting a magnetic filter to trap iron oxide debris and a deaerator to remove dissolved gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide. 

For corrosion protection, we only use and advise leaving a quality Molybdate based Inhibitor in the system, which should be replaced every two years as part of a regular maintenance schedule.

For new boiler installations in the Horsham District, we are able to offer extended boiler warranties because we prove to the manufacturer that we have correctly cleaned and protected the system. 

We use a professional system health check kit which is sent to a dedicated, industry-leading laboratory. 

They test for everything: corrosion products, scale, pH, chloride, conductivity, and inhibitor levels. 

This premium service gives us the accurate, impartial results we need to guarantee your system is protected. 

We have the knowledge to safely and accurately adjust your system’s pH level—a skill many other installers don't possess.

Protect Your Investment: Book Your Boiler Service & Water Quality Check Today.

Don't wait until a costly breakdown proves your warranty is void. 

Ensure your boiler and heating system are protected by an engineer who understands system water quality in the Horsham, Lancing, and Adur Districts.

Call Prime Boiler Care today to book your annual service and essential water quality check.

Prime Boiler Care

Phone: 01403 814602

Address: Suite 54, Standby Business Centre, Foundry Lane, Horsham, West Sussex, England, RH13 5PX