Milkstone Remover isn't removing milkstone....what to try next?

[Col555]

We seem to have a nasty build up of milkstone in our parlour, and nothing seems to be shifting it, we've used traditional MSR but with no effect. Our local farm supplier spoke to their reps and came back with a 'guaranteed' way to clear the system. So we've been using a concentrated mix of acid-brite in hot water, circulated for an hour, then we used an concentrated alkali based circulation cleaner for another hour and it was still there. Repeated it the next day and it's hardly shifted a thing, although it did seem to soften it. We did this for week but it's no better
Any other ideas on how we could get it shifted?

 

[DaveGrohl]

First question to ask is how hot is your water? We had a similar problem a few months ago, tried various chemicals and concentrations with virtually no effect. Eventually raised the boiler temp by 4-5 degrees (even though it was showing maybe 90 deg centigrade). Couple of days later it had all gone.

Also a very important point is DO NOT keep circulating more than about 5 mins, all you're doing is dropping the circulation temp and redepositing crap having lifted it off.

 

[Headless chicken]

Peracitic acid

 

[Monty]

Our boiler has an overide switch which overides the thermostat so we can circulate with boiling water plus a mild circulation cleaner in the mornings and we just use cold water and cc at night. Never had an issue with milkstone or bactoscan.

 

[Blue.]

I use acid one day then alkaline the other,only rinse wash at night and finish with a hypo rinse.

Is your water hard?

 

[neilo]

What MSR remover are you using? Some are pretty weak.

If you already have a big build up to shift, make it more concentrated, it will be more effective at removing the milkstone (have used 50% on showerheads before now). The acid dissolves the Ca deposits, and becomes neutralised as it does so. As above, don't keep circulating the weakened acid, as it will just deposit the milkstone back on again.

 

[Col555]

The temp is set at 87, so I'm going to up it and run acid through again for a short time, and see how it goes. We've used a couple brands of MSR, Evans and kilco iirc.

 

[DaveGrohl]

I would go 95+ for a few days. If that shifts it then drop it back but to a higher temp than 87.