What are the effects of having hard water in winter?

There are many problems associated with hard water. Whether it’s causing dry skin, leaving scale deposits, or blocking up piping, these problems are experienced all year round. But during the winter, hard water can be more of an issue. Here’s why:

One of the biggest problems associated with hard water is its effect on heating systems and piping. If you’ve ever noticed how scale builds up inside your kettle, the same happens inside your heating systems and piping. Anywhere hard water is heated, you will experience this issue.

To begin with, the problem may go unnoticed as you cannot see inside your pipes, and heating systems will work as they should. However, as scale build-up increases and thickens, it can restrict water flow and reduce the working efficiency of heating systems.

Know all the facts on hard water with the answers to these popular questions.

Piping

Steel piping is the most susceptible to scale build-up due to the electrostatic attraction between the mineral ions and the metal surface. While some claim copper and PVC pipes are not an issue with scale build-up, this is untrue. Limescale still accumulates to the inside of pipes but to a lesser extent.

The greater the thickness of scale deposits that build up, the lower the pressure in the pipe. Another issue that can also occur is pipe corrosion. Both calcium and magnesium in hard water can lead to corrosion of the pipe's metal from the inside. Here’s how scale can insulate the inside of pipes:

Eventually, the pipe loses electrons as the pipe corrodes due to the electrochemical reaction. This creates a positive charge. The positively charged electrons are then transferred to another substance with a negative charge (oxygen atoms in water).

Over time, the corrosion can lead to pipes rusting, leaking, and clogging. Due to the irreparable damage, any damaged pipes will need to be entirely replaced. This is particularly the case with piping in the winter due to using heating systems.

You may also notice much lower water pressure from the taps and the shower. The blockages inside the pipe restrict water flow, meaning the pressure is much lower than you are accustomed to. The greater the build-up inside pipes, the more the pressure is affected.

Boilers

Scale build-up also applies to your boiler. As water is heated inside, the scale builds up around components inside the boiler, just like inside pipes. The greater the build-up, the less efficient your boiler becomes.

To try and maintain the same heat, your boiler requires more energy. Some people may also need to turn the thermostat up as a boiler’s efficiency decreases from scale build-up. In both cases, your energy bill will suffer as a result.

As scale build-up accumulates and worsens, you’ll also find that a boiler will need much more servicing and maintenance. Problems may need addressing or parts replacing. While servicing annually may spot these issues early, there may be instances where the problem cannot be fixed.

If scale build-up has caused significant damage to a boiler, you’ll need to fork out the cost for a replacement. This can be a costly job, especially over the winter, with Christmas around the corner. The more you use your heating, the worse the problem will likely be.

Radiators will also suffer the same fate and become less efficient over time as scale builds up. That’s because radiators use hot water to heat the metal to allow convention to work for heating a room.

While water doesn’t always remain inside the radiator, scale build-up still occurs as hot water is transferred into the radiator when on. Like inside your pipes and boiler, radiators can suffer the same fate and become much less efficient.

As a result, rooms will feel colder, and you won’t experience the same heating efficiency as before.
This will lead many to turn their heating up further without knowing the exact cause. As before, heating bills will increase due to the increased use of power.

Skin

The winter is always harsh on the skin. Due to the cold air outside that holds less moisture, your skin also becomes drier. Using heating systems inside can also have a similar effect, causing our skin to become drier during the colder weather.

With skin drier and weaker during the winter months, it is more susceptible to the effects of hard water. The redness and irritable skin you experience during the cold spells can be made much worse by the water you wash with.

The calcium and magnesium minerals in hard water are bad reactants with the fatty acids in soap. As a result, the bad reaction leaves behind a soap scum that is difficult to wash away. You’ll also need to use more soap to create a sufficient lather.

This bad reaction also leaves a soap scum layer behind on the skin. This soap scum can block and clog skin pores which help keep the skin nourished and moisturised. The combination of washing with hard water and the cold weather can lead to very dry skin.

As a result, your skin is much more likely to experience the following effects:

• - Cracking
• - Roughness
• - Scaly patches
• - Discolouration
• - Itching or flaking
• - Burning sensation
• - Infection

Hands and the face are the most likely to experience the effects of hard water and colder weather drying out the skin. To overcome such effects, people will turn to methods to try to moisturise or rejuvenate their skin. These methods seldom work due to the problem lying with the water.

Check out our infographic on the effects of hard water on skin and hair.

How an electronic water descaler can help

 

With the exemplified problems from hard water over the winter months, many may seek an option to overcome such effects. Some of these methods, such as changing soaps or using a moisturiser, may fail to provide the desired effects.

Instead, a method that targets the source of the problem is required. This is where an electronic water descaler can help you overcome the effects of hard water. Opting for a permanent solution, such as a water descaler, can help eliminate the problems all year round.

While only small, these devices can provide many benefits, including preventing dry skin over the winter. The small device is attached to the main water supply using wire coils. The wire is wrapped around the water inlet pipe to allow the device to produce an electromagnetic field.

This field is harmless to humans and does not alter or change the water’s chemical composition. No chemicals are added to the water, and nothing is removed. Instead, the device seeks to affect the calcium carbonate form.

The formation of calcium carbonate is affected by the time-variant magnetic field. The calcium remains in the water, but the build-up that causes heating system damage and dry skin is no longer a problem. The water’s quality is unaffected by the process.

Find out more about how an electronic water descaler works.

There is also little ongoing cost to running a water descaler, making it a much more efficient and reliable option than a water softener. A water softener requires constant maintenance and expenses to keep it running.

While a water descaler does not make the water soft, it helps alleviate the problems associated with a hard water supply. By opting for a water descaler, you can benefit from:

• - Retains the health-beneficial minerals.
• - The water retains its natural pH as no chemicals are added.
• - Water is suitable for cooking, washing, and drinking without an unpleasant taste.
• - Water is much kinder to skin, with no soap scum that can cause dry skin.
• - Those suffering from eczema can notice a reduction in symptoms.
• - Reduced heating costs.
• - Low-cost solution that requires no ongoing maintenance or refilling.

With the effects of hard water you can experience in the winter, choosing a simple and easy solution to overcome such problems can be a blessing. Keep your heating systems operating efficiently and reduce dry skin this winter, thanks to the effects of an electronic water descaler.