Magnetic central heating system filter information.

[Wingedharpy]

Asking for a friend.
She has been "encouraged" to consider having one of these fitted when she had her latest annual boiler service.
Her combi boiler is 12 years old.
Would this be a smart thing to do or is it a load of nonsense?
Anything else she should be asking before she makes her decision?
All input gratefully received.

I realise that the title should say "Central heating magnetic filter".
She doesn't have some whacky system - just gas.

Pretty sure you can get DIY ones for under 100... have heard of people trying to sell to vulnerable for 1000!!!
Not sure they make any difference though

They are helpful in capturing circulating sludge and particles before they can build into a blockage. This may save you later problems, and reduce the risk of needing a powerflush which is much more disruptive and expensive.

Adding a cleaning chemical such as X400 will also help by loosening and dislodging existing sludge so it can be trapped. A householder with some DIY ability can do that. Once you have been shown how to do it you should be able to empty out the trapped dirt once a year or so. It is no more difficult than changing a hoover bag. You should expect to find that the amount of dirt gets smaller each time, as your system gets cleaner. If not, you probbly have a fault that needs repairing.

A good filter will cost in the region of £100. It might take an hour or so to fit.

The Magnaclean models are very effective at trapping sludge. The early red ones used to leak from bad seals and cheap valves, but the newer black ones seem improved. The newer ones have a handle allowing you to grip and pull to remove the canister from the pipework, you will recognise what I mean when you see it.

I've also used the brass Spirotech, but my experience has been that it as not as good at trapping sludge and particles.

Other people's experience may differ.

I think I must be talking about something different... wires wrapped around the pipe and low current to get rid of lime scale build up

oh, that's complete nonsense.

It works in the same way that a copper bracelet cures rheumatism

i.e. not at all.

I think she wondered if it was worth doing for a boiler of this age.
I read somewhere that the average life expectancy of a combi boiler is around 15 years so I think she thought it was something that would be useful if/when the boiler is changed rather than doing it now.
Is this flawed thinking?

if you mean the magic wire that transforms ordinary calcium into non-scaling calcium, it is worthless.

The other kind of filter is very much worth having.

Have you had a namechange fail there, OP?

We had a magna-thingy fitted when we had a new boiler last year, I do think it works judging by what came out of it at the service the other type, probably not.

We were encouraged when we had a new boiler put in old sluggy system. We said no.

About 2 years later it all packed up. Massive bill to clear the pipes. They said we really should of had the magentic thing. So maybe what is the cost quoted ?

You should have your system flushed when fitting a new boiler.

We had a flush -and have.a magnaclean and scale filter.

The magnaclean is cleaned every boiler service and has been full of crap so it's obviously doing something!

Many thanks.
No name change @ChicCroissant.
Having read a bit more I now understand her confusion.
I think she thought it fitted on to the boiler in some way but I believe it fits onto the pipework which will be the same regardless of which boiler it's feeding.
Will pass on your words of wisdom to her.
Grateful for all input.