{"product_id":"scaledefender","title":"McAlpine Scale Defender Starter Kit | Limescale Protection | 40,000L","description":"\u003cp\u003eHard water costing you money? The \u003cstrong\u003eMcAlpine Scale Defender Starter Kit\u003c\/strong\u003e is the smart, compact alternative to a water softener — protecting your entire home from damaging limescale without salt, without ongoing maintenance, and without the bulk. Fitted once at the mains stopcock, it gets to work straight away, quietly shielding your boiler, pipes, radiators, taps, and appliances for up to \u003cstrong\u003e40,000 litres\u003c\/strong\u003e per cartridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × Scale Defender unit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 × Polyphosphate cartridge (40,000L capacity)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e15mm connectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e22mm connectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhole-home protection\u003c\/strong\u003e — fitted at the internal mains stopcock to treat all water entering the property\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40,000L cartridge capacity\u003c\/strong\u003e — long-lasting performance before a simple cartridge swap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFood-grade polyphosphate\u003c\/strong\u003e — WHO and FAO approved, safe for drinking water, BS EN 1212 certified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo salt, no regeneration cycles\u003c\/strong\u003e — far more compact and cheaper to run than a traditional water softener\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtects appliances and heating systems\u003c\/strong\u003e — a 1mm limescale build-up can add £150–£200 to your annual energy bills (Carbon Trust)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy cartridge replacement\u003c\/strong\u003e — no tools, no specialist knowledge required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e15mm and 22mm fittings included\u003c\/strong\u003e — compatible with standard UK pipework\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Specification\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e McAlpine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Scale Defender Starter Kit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSKU:\u003c\/strong\u003e SCA-STA\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCartridge capacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40,000L per cartridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConnections:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15mm and 22mm (included)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eActive ingredient:\u003c\/strong\u003e Food-grade polyphosphate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompliance:\u003c\/strong\u003e BS EN 1212 | EC drinking water regulations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstallation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Professional plumber recommended (45–60 mins)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cartridge replacement only — no ongoing servicing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.97 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry of Origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e United Kingdom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHow does polyphosphate protect against limescale?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePolyphosphate coats calcite crystals in the incoming water, preventing them from bonding to surfaces. Your appliances stay scale-free, and calcium remains in the water so it's still safe and pleasant to drink.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a plumber to fit it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — professional installation is recommended. Fitting takes 45–60 minutes and the unit is installed just after your internal mains stopcock. After that, cartridge replacements are a simple DIY job.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is it fitted?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJust after the internal mains stopcock, so it treats all water entering the property and provides whole-home protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhy choose Scale Defender over a water softener?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMuch lower running costs, far more compact, and no need for salt top-ups or regeneration cycles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is it better than a sacrificial zinc anode?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZinc anodes work well with constantly flowing water but fail with stored water — aragonite reforms into calcite over time, meaning limescale will gradually build up in your heating system and tanks. Scale Defender provides continuous protection regardless of flow patterns.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIs polyphosphate safe?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — it's a food-grade ingredient approved by the WHO and FAO, and widely used in food processing. It complies fully with BS EN 1212 and EC drinking water regulations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCan I order if the item shows as out of stock?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — this item is ordered in specially for you and will typically be dispatched within 5–7 working days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhen will my order be dispatched?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs this item is ordered in to fulfil your order, please allow 5–7 working days for dispatch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a small, postable item covered by a one-off small item delivery charge. You can combine it with other small items in a single order and pay just one delivery charge. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/small-items\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBrowse all items covered by the small delivery charge\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Accessory\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce your Scale Defender is installed, you'll need to replace the cartridge periodically to maintain full limescale protection. We recommend picking up a refill pack at the same time so you're always prepared:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mcalpine-scale-defender-refill-pack\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMcAlpine Scale Defender Refill Pack (SCA-RE)\u003c\/strong\u003e — 2 x Replacement Cartridges, 40,000L each\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"McAlpine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53020193456465,"sku":"SCA-STA","price":199.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0997\/3687\/9441\/files\/scale_defenderfittingkiwa-webp.webp?v=1770760612","url":"https:\/\/bubblegumbathrooms.com\/products\/scaledefender","provider":"Bubblegum Bathrooms","version":"1.0","type":"link"}