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We’ve all had problems with limescale in our homes, such as descaling our kettles and coffee machines, constantly cleaning and polishing kitchen and bathroom cutlery and tiles to make them look clean, or sudden heating system disruption due to limescale deposition in the system during the winters. But do you know what is the main cause of limescale formation? It’s HARD WATER!
The amount of calcium, magnesium, and other heavy metals dissolved in water contributes to the water hardness. 0 to 100 mg/L (as calcium carbonate) is classified as soft to moderately soft, 100 to 200 mg/L is medium to moderately hard and 200+ mg/L is as hard to very hard.
What is Limescale?
Limescale is formed due to the presence of excessive amounts of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in your water. It gets only visible when the water is heated or evaporated, as heat causes the formation of lime, which gets accumulated at the bottom of the appliances.
The limescale deposition can be easily seen in water heaters, washing machines, coffee machines, kettles, boilers, and hot water storage tanks, as well as heating pipes and the entire drinking water installation. As a result, we end up descaling all these appliances and devices more frequently with hard and strong chemicals that are environmentally hazardous.
Heating pipes with limescale build-up require more energy, that significantly reduces the service life of your appliances using hard water. If too much water settles in the water pipes, limescale formation can occur, resulting in high repair costs. Furthermore, if the water is too hard, you will require more detergent and soap, which will cost you money and have an impact on the environment.
Effects of Limescale
- Hard water, which contains calcium carbonate, not only has an impact on your household appliances, but it can also have an impact on your body. Hard water causes dull hair and rough, dry skin. As a result, the beauty products are less effective on your body.
- The high levels of calcium in the water can make your fabrics such as towels, bathrobes, clothing, and bed linen scratchy, brittle, and rough. Of course, it’s not a great feeling when your towel feels as stiff as a board.
- Limescale deposits in the hot water circuit not only impair the functioning of the building services, but they also serve as an ideal breeding ground for bacteria such as legionella, posing a health risk. As a result, long-term limescale protection for your home becomes critical.
- Hard water stains can be seen on your cutlery, glasses, kitchen, and bathroom taps and sinks, which require frequent use of cleaning products to remove.
- Because the hardness of the water prevents soap scum from flushing away, it accumulates and can be seen on bathroom surfaces such as bathtubs.
How to remove limescale?
There are a variety of short-term solutions available that can help you get rid of hard water problems to some extent.
For your kitchen appliances, you can use any descale solution from any brand that is available in your local market. There are numerous cleaning solutions designed specifically to remove hard water stains, limescale, and scum from bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Whatever solutions you use for your home, make sure you follow the instructions, which are usually listed on the packaging.
White vinegar is a natural way to get rid of hard water problems because it removes limescale from kettles and bathroom fixtures like taps and toilets. Simply apply them to the affected areas, wait a few minutes, and scrub them until you see results. Or you could also use acid (lemons) and baking soda. Add them to your kettle along with water and bring it to a boil, then set it aside for 15 minutes and wash it a couple of times with cold water.
These solutions are quick and easy to use, but keep in mind that they will only help you remove limescale, not prevent it from forming. As a result, after a while, you will notice limescale formation and water marks in your home and will need to reapply these solutions. If the water in your area is hard, it can be exhausting because limescale forms quickly.
Why Limescale Prevention is Important?Â
Limescale is a by-product of hard water that can be found in your home – in your heating water appliances, on your kitchen and bathroom taps, in your water pipes, or on glass. Because we use these appliances almost every day, the heated water causes limescale to build up more frequently. This requires more descaling and cleaning of these appliances with various liquids and stain removers.
This might become annoying for you as you need to constantly remove them, because cleaning and descaling don’t prevent the limescale formation. At some point, you will see them forming on the surfaces or within your appliances or water pipes.
Which is why you can always choose for solutions that help stop the formation of limescale in the first place.
Not sure how hard your water is? Use the coupon code HWTK1 and order BWT FREE hard water test kit. Simply enter the coupon code at the checkout and pay our standard P&P or add to a qualifying order for free delivery.
How to prevent limescale formation?
You can do it in the following ways with the help of BWT products.
1. Water Softeners
Water softeners are the most popular and widely used water treatment solution that transforms your hard water into softened water with very low amount of minerals. It works on the ion-exchange principle, removing calcium and magnesium ions and replacing them with sodium ions. This helps in reducing the water hardness and as a result helps in preventing limescale build-up. The end result would be softened water that is ideal for washing clothes, bathing, water pipes, or other household appliances. With BWT, you can select your ideal water softener from a wide range designed for for every lifestyle.
2. Limescale Inhibitors
Physical water conditioners are an economical, simple to install, environmentally friendly solution for controlling limescale build-up in areas where heat exchange occurs. Limescale Inhibitors unlike water softeners don’t alter the chemistry of the water and are inexpensive to operate. They are ideal for protecting specific appliances at the point where water flows into them because they inhibit the formation of limescale by changing its physical properties. Some will even offer entire house protection.
bwt wrappa electronic limescale reducer
3. Under the sink water filter systems
Our new age under-sink water filters systems are designed to remove excess minerals from your water, therefore helping in preventing limescale when used in kettles and other household appliances. Directly attached under the sink, it filters out water before it is released from the kitchen tap therefore helps in preventing the water marks on your kitchen surfaces, sink tap and cutlery. It comes with a 3-in-1 kitchen sink tap that gives you 3 water options for different preferences; filtered magnesium water, unfiltered hot and cold water. It gives you the luxury of mineralized water straight from your kitchen tap that is ideal for drinking, washing vegetables and fruits, or cooking.