Description
The McAlpine Scale Defender Starter Kit is a comprehensive limescale protection system that tackles limescale while protecting your home and your pocket. This small but powerful unit is affordable and safely seals and removes calcium, protecting your boiler, drinking water, appliances, and entire home plumbing system.
What's Included in the Starter Kit
The complete starter kit includes:
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Scale Defender unit - Main housing with built-in prefilter
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Dosing cartridge - Food-grade polyphosphate cartridge (treats up to 40,000 litres)
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15mm connectors - For standard 15mm copper pipe installations
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22mm connectors - For standard 22mm copper pipe installations
Why You Need Limescale Protection
Limescale affects your pipework, boiler, radiators, taps, appliances, and fittings and can lead to increased repairs or early replacement costs. A 1mm layer of limescale in your boiler can amount to an extra £150 to £200 in household bills every year according to the Carbon Trust.
McAlpine Scale Defender can save hundreds of pounds as it keeps your heating system more efficient and helps prolong the life of pipes, fittings, and appliances.
Key Features
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Treats up to 40,000 litres - Long-lasting cartridge capacity
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Protects entire home - Boiler, pipes, radiators, taps, and appliances
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Saves money - Reduces energy bills and prevents costly repairs
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Food-grade polyphosphate - Safe for drinking water (WHO & FAO approved)
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Easy-clean prefilter - No replacement needed, just rinse clean
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45-60 minute installation - Quick professional fitting
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No ongoing maintenance - Just replace cartridge when needed
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15mm and 22mm fittings included - Fits standard UK plumbing
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High flow rate - Up to 3000 litres/hour
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Wide pressure range - Works from 0.5 to 10 bar
Technical Specifications
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Brand: McAlpine
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Product Type: Limescale Protection System
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Connections: ¾" Male BSP with 15mm & 22mm fittings
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Weight: 0.97kg
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Working Pressure: 0.5 – 10 Bar
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Test Pressure: 25 Bar
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Temperature Range: 1°C – 40°C
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Water Flow Rate: Maximum 3000 litres/hour
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Pressure Loss: Maximum ± 0.3 Bar
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Cartridge Capacity: Up to 40,000 litres
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Prefilter: Easy clean (no replacement needed)
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Standards: BS EN 1212, EC regulations EN 1212
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SKU: K33100
How It Works
The Scale Defender uses food-grade polyphosphate to treat your water supply. As water passes through the unit, the polyphosphate creates a protective coating on pipes and heating elements, preventing limescale from forming and gradually removing existing scale deposits. This keeps your system running efficiently and protects all downstream appliances and fittings.
What is Polyphosphate?
Polyphosphate is a food-grade (consumable) product approved by the World Health Organization and Food and Agricultural Organization. It is widely used today in the food processing industry for cheese, meat, wine, and other products.
McAlpine Scale Defender technology is a completely safe way to treat water in the home and is safe for human consumption according to WHO and FAO recommendations and in accordance with international norms for drinking water to EC regulations, standard EN 1212 and British Standard BS EN 1212.
Easy to Fit
McAlpine Scale Defender should be fitted by a qualified plumber, but at between 45–60 minutes to fit, it should only be an hour's call out. The kit includes both 15mm and 22mm connectors for compatibility with standard UK copper pipe installations. Thereafter, it is easy to replace the cartridges, and the system requires no ongoing maintenance.
Perfect For
- Hard water areas with limescale problems
- Protecting boilers and heating systems
- Extending appliance lifespan (washing machines, dishwashers, kettles)
- Reducing energy bills and improving efficiency
- New build installations
- Renovation projects
- Homes with expensive boiler systems
- Properties with combination boilers
- Landlords protecting rental property investments
Cost Savings
By preventing limescale build-up, the Scale Defender helps you save money in multiple ways:
- Reduced energy bills (limescale reduces boiler efficiency)
- Extended boiler lifespan (prevents scale damage)
- Fewer appliance repairs and replacements
- Reduced plumbing maintenance costs
- Better water flow and pressure
Investment protection: At a fraction of the cost of boiler repairs or replacement, the Scale Defender pays for itself through energy savings and extended equipment life.
