Limescale stains on taps and bathroom surfaces are the most obvious symptom, but high calcium content in your tap water causes far bigger problems: it corrodes pipes, wrecks appliances, and quietly raises your heating bills. Installing a water softener is the most effective way to tackle the problem at source. Around 85% of European homes are affected by hard water.
What is limescale?
When we talk about limescale in domestic water, we mean the concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts.
Calcium and magnesium are minerals that are genuinely good for you. The problem is purely one of concentration. Water with high levels of these minerals is called hard water, and the harder the water, the more deposits it leaves behind.
In the UK, water hardness is measured in mg/l (or parts per million). Anything above 200 mg/l is generally classed as hard.
Why you should address hard water
Hard water causes issues across multiple areas of your home:
- Scaled-up heating pipes, boiler circuits, shower heads, and taps;
- Reduced water pressure;
- Bacterial growth inside drinking water pipes;
- Frequent repairs or early replacement of appliances;
- Skin irritation, especially on sensitive skin;
- Dry, dull hair;
- Higher energy consumption in hot water systems;
- White residue and dull surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen.
Reduce, not eliminate
The goal is not to strip all calcium and magnesium from your water. It is to bring hardness down to a comfortable level, where you get no deposits but the water still contains beneficial minerals.
How a water softener works
The most reliable solution is to install a softener on your main water supply, so that every tap in the house benefits from treated water.
There are different technologies available:
- Ion exchange: replaces calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions; the most common and proven method;
- Reverse osmosis: filters out nearly all dissolved substances; best suited for drinking water.
Reasons to install a water softener:
- Up to 25% savings on energy costs;
- Fewer appliance repairs and longer service life;
- No more limescale marks on taps, shower screens, or tiles;
- No more scale build-up in pipes, appliances, and boilers;
- Up to 50% less detergent needed;
- Softer skin and healthier hair;
- Softer laundry and bed linen.
Visit our online store and explore the full range of water softeners.