To think new boiler is making my hair feel weird?

[ChampionWorrier21]

Just had a whole new system put in with a big water tank. No water softener added or anything like that. Since it’s been installed, my hair just doesn’t feel the same when I wash it - it always used to feel “squeaky” clean after shampooing/before applying conditioner and then shiny and bouncy once dry. Now after shampooing it almost feels like it has build-up on it and when it dries, it’s a bit limp and fluffy.

No shampoo or product changes and I’ve always used a clarifying shampoo every now and then to avoid any build-up and never had issues.

Could it be the boiler?? I know it sounds mad as it’s exactly the same water but I can’t think what else it could be.

I kind of get what you mean, we just had a new combi boiler and my hair feels like it has more build up since the change. But it’s the same hard water as before so I can’t imagine why there should be a difference!

Have you changed your shampoo at all?

Glad it’s not just me! Our water is hard too.
No, I’ve kept everything the same product-wise but I think I’m going to have to get a stronger shampoo.

Did they maybe flush out the whole system when they put the boiler in? If there was gunk/limescale/whatever that was sitting in the pipes/tank, is it possible that was affecting the quality of your water as it passed through your plumbing system, and now everything's been cleaned out (or replaced) when the boiler was fitted, the water just has fewer particles in it?

I used to live in a hard water area and when I moved to a soft water area, at first I felt like my hair was never properly clean when I washed it and it always seemed to feel a bit limp and fluffy. Obviously your water supply itself hasn't changed, so I'm just wondering whether it was previously being affected by residue or scale that had built up in the system within your property. I don't know if that would be the case (as you can tell, I'm no plumbing expert) but it's the only theory I can think of!

I have a big water storage heater in a hard water area- my hair is definitely less soft than when I wash it at friend's and family's homes with normal boilers in the same area. I assume its to do with the water sitting there in the tank for longer.

Good point! They did do a flush out!

Are you absolutely sure there isn't a filter attached? I don't live in a hard water area but my combi boiler had one fitted as standard a couple of years ago. Relatives who live in hard water areas all have them too. It just looks like a round black thing attached to the pipes that go in, the filter is cleaned/changed at the service so not like the old water softener systems houses sometimes had.

Yes @ManateeFair they did flush it out - I think you’re right! In which case, I want my old dirty water back!!😆

@ek20 definitely no filter as we considered one but couldn’t afford it.

I have heard hair feels different when you wash it with hard/soft water. Never experienced it though.

Maybe there is some chemical sprayed on the inside of the hot water cylinder to stop it rusting and you are getting a low concentration of that in the hot water. Or maybe your old water tank was full of some sort of sediment/limescale deposits that changed your hot water chemistry.

If it is something like a chemical used to flush the system then it will go with time.

Not saying you are wrong, I'm just I'm honestly very surprised at this. There seems to be quite a bit on the internet saying building regulations from 2022 onwards meant magnetic filters should be fitted as standard. My new boiler cost £3000, no way I would jeopardise that for a £150 water filter!

@ek20 is a magnetic filter different to a softener? It was a softener that we decided against- but maybe we do have the type of filter you’re talking about?

My understanding is a magnetic filter basically takes out particles from the water, it doesn't 'soften' it like the old systems people used to have (I think you had to put salt and things in those?). But it's there to stop the boiler gunging up and stuff getting into the pipes. I very much suspect you do have one, especially in a hard water area. As others have said it's possibly this, combined with the flushing etc that's making the difference. It looks likely they had to use scale and corrosion inhibiter when it was fitted as well, if the guidance is anything to go by!

However, on 15 June 2022, Part L of the Building Regulations is changing. Part L is the section that deals with heating in the home. The Best Practice document is becoming a requirement of the Building Regulations, and when a new boiler is fitted, the installer must carry out the following steps:

1. Clean: carry out a system clean and flush
2. Filter: fit an in-line filter, find out more about filters here
3. Inhibit: add scale and corrosion inhibitor to the heating system. Low temperature systems must also include a biocide
4. Maintain: at every annual boiler service they must also clean and service the filter and check the levels of inhibitor in the system water

The magnetic filter is there to pull magnetic stuff out of the central heating loop that might damage the central heating pump. This is magnetic stuff that comes off your radiators and pipework. This is completely separate closed water loop to the water in the hot water tank - you wouldn't want to wash your hair in central heating loop inhibitor !

A water softener basically removes dissolved salts from the water supply - calcium mainly. This would affect the properties of your hot and cold water.

Ah, I see - in that case, I expect we have one of those filters then as we had the works done! I just decided against a water softener (which is what I thought you meant) as it was an extra expense and I’ve heard mixed reviews.

Could it be more chlorine in the water? Chlorine disperses a bit when water stands, so there won't be as much of it in a cold water and hot water tank system. Combi boilers work with water straight off the mains.

It could be as simple as your water company sourcing your water from a different reservoir or borehole. If it's from a borehole then water tends to get harder in winter because due to the ground being saturated it takes longer for the rain to percolate through the limestone to the water table and has more opportunity to pick up limescale.

oh yes, actually that's a really good point. Although I think the OP says it's a combi boiler, so there wouldn't be a hot water tank.
Did you have a tank before OP? Maybe that's the difference...

A combi boiler should still have a magnetic filter on the central heating loop. IMO anyway, because there is still the possibility of magnetic particles from the CH loop fouling the CH pump. Magnetic filters have nothing to do with the presence of a hot water tank (hot water supply) or cold water supply and are relevant on both combi and system boilers to extend the lifespan of the pump.

The OP says "just had a new system put in with a big water tank". Which doesn't sound like a combi boiler to me.