How Does Hard Water Affect Domestic Appliances? The Benefits of Using an Electronic Water Descaler

More than 60% of Britain suffers from the effects of hard water*.

What is hard water?

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"Hard" water is the term used to describe water that has a high content of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. It is not a health risk but can cause a variety of other problems.

Problems associated with living in a hard water area include:

Hard water can affect soap, shampoo and detergent performance, they produce less lather which then requires the use of more soap/detergent/ shampoo. This is harmful to the environment. Your hair may appear dull. Skin feels dry. Clothes are more difficult to rinse. Deposits of scum can make fabrics feel coarse. Scale combined with soap equals scum - this clings to baths, basins, tiles & taps etc making cleaning more difficult and time consuming.
Hidden costs

When heated hard water can leave deposits of scale at a rate of 1.5mm per year. This cause boilers and tanks to lose capacity and pipes to narrow. Government statistics demonstrate that 6mm of scale can reduce the efficiency of your heating system by up to 38%. This has obvious cost and environmental implications. An average domestic boiler could cost more than £1,000 to replace. The build up of 'limescale' reduces both the performance and life expectancy of domestic appliances that heat water including your iron, dishwasher and washing machine. This has a knock on effect for the running costs of your home. The extra cost of limescale removers, fabric softeners and detergents can equate to more than £200 per year. Your washing machine may need around five times as much soap and up to 30% more detergent if you live in a hard water area.
How to minimise the effects of hard water

Use the correct soaps and detergents. Use a lower temperature setting for your boiler, dishwasher and washing machine. Install an electronic descaler to soften the water.
The benefits of an electronic water descaler

Substantially reduce "scum" marks on sinks, baths & kettles. Chemical free solution to water softening. No moving parts, fit and forget. No need for regular refilling or maintenance. Self-monitoring, will indicate any system fault, internally or externally. Avoid using more of environmentally damaging cleaning materials that become less effective in hard water. Does not effect the chemical composition of the water, is healthy to drink. Relatively low cost solution. All the benefits attributed to softer water, kinder to skin etc. Less Detergent Required Reduce Heating Costs. Avoid using increasingly more fuel to drive the system as scale reduces flow. No tricky installation, easy to attach, & plug into standard power outlet. Avoid having to prematurely replace pipe-work, boilers, storage tanks, radiators, showers, washing machines, etc. due to scale build-up.
How soon will I notice the benefits

Once installed, the unit will begin to soften the water and prevent further build up of limescale. Deposits built up over many years take longer to eliminate but will disappear as softer water passes through the pipes, this process can take a few months but when you consider that the deposits have taken decades to build up, it is a relatively quick process.

* To see a map of hard water areas in the UK go to www.dishwasher-care.org.uk/facts.html.

How Does Hard Water Affect Domestic Appliances? The Benefits of Using an Electronic Water Descaler

WATER SOFTENER RATINGS