Stain & Scale! Required or just another additive?

[Campsalot]

I would like to hear if stain and scale is required. Does it help with foam or add to it?  What do all of you dealers recomend?

[drewstar]

I would like to hear if stain and scale is required. Does it help with foam or add to it?  What do all of you dealers recomend?

FWIW, (I'm not a dealer). My dealer recomeded using Defender (A stain and scale product) every Other week as part of my normal maitence.   It is my understanding it helps prevent scale from buildng up on the heater.  As far as I know, it  doesn't effect foam one way or the other.

[wmccall]

My water is extremely soft, I haven't used any of this type product in 3 years.

[Campsalot]

I am curious, what if you have standard water; that is water that is not hard but not sofT/

[Vinny]

I would think that any product that "defends" against something does so for water that's high in whatever it's defending against.

If you have regular water (fortunately I have Bill's problem  ) I think it shouldn't need to have your tub defended against.

I have said that my dealer seems weak in their knowledge of water chemistry. Some dealers may be also, so instead of learning proper water care they issue chems.

[The_real_Clown_Shoes]

Stain & Scale control products are only necessary if you can't keep your pH below 7.8.  That's the pH that water drops calcium out at.  Water also drops calcium out faster in warmer temperatures- which is why heaters fail quicker.

If you can manage to keep your pH in balance and have softer water, you can avoid using S&S.

[drewstar]

Stain & Scale control products are only necessary if you can't keep your pH below 7.8.  That's the pH that water drops calcium out at.  Water also drops calcium out faster in warmer temperatures- which is why heaters fail quicker.

If you can manage to keep your pH in balance and have softer water, you can avoid using S&S.

I have no problem keeping my PH below 7.8

Perhaps I should back off on using the $12.99 bottle of Defender?