Everything you need to know about hard water and how an electronic water descaler can help

Water that is referred to as being ‘hard’ is due to the high levels of minerals present in the water. There is no difference in the rigidity of the water. It is all down to what’s in the water at the molecular level. Minerals such as magnesium and calcium are the culprits that result in hard water. Guilty as charged! The greater the amount of calcium and magnesium ions that are present in the water determine the hardness. In comparison, soft water has minimal amounts of these mineral ions. Instead, soft water usually consists of greater amounts of sodium or salt.

For the Chemistry buffs out there, check out more scientific information on hard water.

Hard water in the UK

Areas within the South and East of England experience the highest levels of hard water. The water supplied to these regions are exposed to higher amounts of chalk and limestone as the water passes through the granite regions in the North and West of the UK.

Swindon is reported to have the highest levels of hard water, reaching up to 349 mg/L. Slough, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hampstead, and Bath also have very hard water.

Anyone living in the following counties will also experience high levels of water hardness:
•    Bedfordshire
•    Berkshire
•    Buckinghamshire
•    Cambridgeshire
•    Dorset
•    Essex
•    Gloucestershire
•    Greater London
•    Hampshire
•    Hertfordshire
•    Kent
•    Oxfordshire
•    Surrey
•    Sussex
•    Wiltshire

You cannot judge whether water is hard or soft by just observing it. Instead, to determine the hardness of water, you can watch the effects of soap solutions. Hard water forms a precipitate sud as opposed to a lather produced with soft water. The ions found in the hard water destroy the surfactant properties of soap. Washing with soap in hard water areas is more difficult and requires more soap.

See how hard the water is in your area.


To begin with, water in the seas, oceans, and lakes evaporates. And this is where the story begins. On a nice day, the sun will heat the water from these sources. Then, evaporation causes the vapour to rise into the sky. As the vapour cools, it condenses to become droplets. These droplets form clouds. The clouds continue to form and transport the water inland.

Once enough water has condensed, the drops are heavy enough to fall to the ground. Here we have precipitation. Meteorologically speaking, precipitation is where the condensation of atmospheric vapour falls from the clouds under the gravitational pull. Newton anyone? In other words, we have rain (or snow depending on how cold it is). Either way, the water at this stage is still not hard.

The rain needs to fall onto sedimentary rocks, such as limestone or chalk, with calcium and magnesium compounds present. That shouldn’t be too difficult as limestone can be commonly found all over the surface of the Earth.

The water then percolates through the rocks. As the water percolates through the rock deposits, the minerals are dissolved into the water. Limestone is slightly soluble which allows the minerals to be dissolved into the water. It is here now that the water becomes hard.

Finally, the water then flows from the rocks and into streams and reservoirs. The water here goes on to form our water supply (eventually).


Magnesium is essential for supporting muscles, nerve function and energy production. Calcium is also essential for bone and teeth development. Calcium can also be beneficial to aid blood clotting and support normal heart rhythms. Some people also prefer the taste of hard water.

The only potential of hard water for our health is that it may increase the risk of you developing kidney stones. However, the consensus appears to be that drinking hard water alone does not form kidney stones.

There has been some research that indicates hard water can increase the effects caused by eczema. Areas that have a hard water supply have reportedly experienced higher levels of those suffering from Eczema. Around 1 in 5 children and 1 in 12 adults are reported to have eczema in the UK. People report that soft water feels cleaner and silky to the skin. While there is no cure for Eczema, reducing the effects of hard water can help minimise the effects.

Find out more about the effects of hard water on eczema.


The most prevalent example to showcase the build-up of limescale is inside a kettle. As the water is boiled at speed, the limescale can build up very quickly. While not particularly pleasant to your tea or coffee, the problems of limescale build-up stretch far beyond your kettle.
Anywhere in the house where hard water is likely to be heated will see a build of scale. That includes your kitchen appliances, heating, boilers, and bathroom facilities.

If you were to look inside your plumbing pipes, you’d be surprised to see the amount of scale that can build up. Around 1.5mm (that’s the thickness of a grain of rice) builds up.
That includes taps, on hard surfaces, and inside your appliances. Not only can scale lead to iron and steel pipes corroding, but hard water also causes other problems.

As scale continues to build up, your appliances need to work harder. Washing machines, dishwashers, and other kitchen appliances that use water are all affected. Over time, the appliances become less efficient and will require regular maintenance and replacement parts. Eventually, you’ll need to replace the appliance altogether. An expense many households and businesses would wish to avoid. Appliances that see a build-up of scale have a much-reduced life. Because it happens beneath the surface, many people are unaware of the problem.

The same goes for your heating too. As scale continues to build up, it insulates your pipes and heating. It makes the heating less efficient, and you may find yourself turning the thermostat up to get the same heating effects. The scale not only creates greater inefficiency with your heating but also increases your heating bills.

Scale that builds up in the bathroom and around sinks will also require spending on additional cleaning products to get rid of the unsightly marks. Whether it’s built up around the water outlet, or the watermarks left on a surface, specialist cleaning products will need to be acquired to get rid of the calcium stains.

To highlight the significance of the issue caused by hard water, look at these facts:
•    A 1mm layer of scale in heating systems can cause a drop in efficiency of 12%.
•    The 1mm scale build-up increases your boiler energy input by 7%.
•    Your annual energy bills could, on average, increase by £200.
•    Clothes washed in appliances using hard water wear down quicker.
•    Excessive washing in hard water can cause glasswork to become more brittle.
•    Pipes are more likely to crack and break, causing damaging leaks.
•    Skin becomes itchier and more irritable, and hair can seem dry after washing.

Electronic water descaler

If you experience any of the problems that hard water creates, you may decide to finally act. To overcome the problems associated with hard water, an electronic water descaler can be used. These little devices can help get rid of the problems of hard water.

What are they?

Electronic water descalers are an ideal option for anyone who wishes to overcome the problems caused by hard water. While only a small device, they can have great benefits. These devices are ideal for both homes and businesses that want to get rid of all those damaging consequences of scale build-up.

So, how do they work?

There is often a misconception about water descalers. They either don’t work or add other minerals and salts to the water. While that may be the case for water softeners, it most certainly is not for water descalers. And yes, water descalers do work.

The first thing that should be mentioned is they do not remove the calcium and magnesium minerals in the water that cause the scale build-up. Water descalers do not soften the water either. Water softeners do that. Instead, the water remains hard. The chemical composition of water remains untouched.

Instead, the water descaler works by altering the behaviour of the mineral ions. The water descalers are fitted to the water supply. They are quick and easy to install and does not take up a mass amount of room. Just a little device that fits neatly by the plumbing.

The devices work by creating an electromagnetic field. An electrical current is passed through the water. The electrical current alters the behaviour of the ions to prevent them from solidifying the building up. No more nasty calcium deposits. The process is known as ion exchange.

You still get the same great taste of your water and the minerals that are good for you. It just eliminates all the problems caused by scale build-up.

Why should I use one?

Installing an electronic water descaler can provide a vast number of benefits. They take up very little room, are easy to install and require next to no maintenance. Aside from the cost of the appliances, the only running cost is a small amount of electricity. You’ll end up saving money as your appliances become much more efficient.

There are no additional chemicals or salt added to your water supply, and the water is safe to drink. No damage is caused to the environment either. The beneficial minerals to our health are kept in the water. The devices are also more cost-effective compared to a water softener.

Asides from the low price, installation is easy. All you need to do is find the main water supply and attach the coils of wire from the descaler. Then, attach the device to a nearby wall (away from any damp) and switch it on. It’s as simple as that.

You’ll also experience other benefits too:
•    No scale deposits
•    Appliance’s lifespan is longer
•    Less maintenance required saving you money
•    Cracks and leaks are less likely to appear in your pipes.
•    Blockages are also less likely to happen inside your pipes.
•    No unsightly scale build-up around water outlets or on surfaces
•    Efficiency of heating systems won’t be affected by insulation
•    Eczema conditions will improve
•    Reduction in water usage and less water waste
•    Creating a lather with soap, shampoo and other detergents is easier
•    Washed clothes feel more comfortable and softer

While hard water is not a problem that affects everyone, it still causes prevalent problems for many people living in the UK. Hopefully, you’ve found out everything you need to know about hard water and why you should consider using a water descaler. With so many benefits, why not give it a try?