The 7 warning signs of hard water you should know
Hard water accounts for 60% of the UK’s water supply. While not directly a problem, there are many problems associated with hard water. Some such problems are minor, while others can be much more damaging. Here are 7 warning signs of hard water you should know about.
Scale deposits
The first warning sign of
hard water to look out for is scale deposits. Scale deposits are the most obvious warning sign of hard water due to how prominently they can show up. This is especially the case around water outlets, like taps.
Scale deposits happen when hard water evaporates, leaving behind mineral deposits that solidify. While not a significant issue, removing such scale deposits or stains can be a nightmare due to how hard they stick to surfaces.
Scale deposits can also appear on glassware after a run through the dishwasher. Fortunately, these unsightly stains can be removed by using vinegar. Just soak the stain with vinegar to loosen it, then use a cloth to scrub it away.
Dry skin
Another warning sign of hard water you should know is dry skin. Washing your skin and hands with hard water can lead to dryness, itchiness, or chapping. This is because the calcium and magnesium calcium minerals found in hard water are bad reactants with soap.
The bad reaction of minerals and fatty acids in soap results in soap scum forming. When washing on your skin, this scum forms an invisible layer or film over your skin that is near impossible to wash off. This scum layer on your skin blocks and clogs skin pores.
As a result, the skin’s natural oils that keep your skin moisturised and healthy are disrupted. As a result, the skin becomes dry and irritated. There is also a link between
hard water supplies and inflammation of eczema conditions due to the
hard water effects on the skin.
Stiff and rough clothes
Have you ever put on clean clothes that felt stiff or rough on the skin? Some people may naturally assume it is the washing powder. However, you may not realise that the culprit is, in fact, hard water.
For a similar reason to the effects on your skin, mineral deposits from hard water stick and cling to clothing fabrics. This leads to fabric feeling stiff or rough on the skin. There’s no need for you to change your washing powder now.
Washing clothes in hard water can also lead to colour fading. For example, whitewashing may not be white anymore, as hard water can turn it slightly grey. Over time, mineral deposits will weaken the fabric fibres, making them weaker and more prone to tearing.
Lacklustre hair and dry scalp
In the same way hard water can dry and irritate the skin, your scalp and hair can also suffer. A dry scalp and lacklustre hair are more warning signs of hard water you should know about.
As with skin, washing your hair and scalp with hard water leaves mineral deposits that create a build-up. On the scalp, this mineral build-up leads to a dry, itchy, or sore scalp. This can also lead to dandruff and oily scalps as the skin struggles to keep the scalp healthy and moisturised.
Hair can also suffer from hard water. Washing hair with hard water can lead to colour fading or dry, brittle hair. Other characteristics your hair can display after washing in hard water include a dull appearance, heavy, looking flat, or feeling rough.
Increased water bills
Another warning sign of hard water you should know is the effect it can have on your water bill. Unlike the other warning signs outlined above, this one may be more difficult to attribute to hard water. However, hard water can be linked to higher water bills.
There are two reasons why this happens. The first is that boilers and heating systems become less efficient over time, meaning water takes much longer to heat. As this problem worsens, your water bill will gradually rise due to increased water usage.
The second reason is the increased water usage to clean scale deposits or create a sufficient soap lather. Due to how poorly hard water reacts with soap, you must use more water before creating a sufficient lather with soap or detergents. This also increases your water bills.
Reduced appliance lifespan
Household appliances can also suffer from hard water supplies, gradually becoming less efficient. Any appliances that use water will become less efficient over time. That’s because scale build-up happens inside your appliances just the same. This is most noticeable with a kettle.
As a result, appliances must work harder to reach their optimal levels. Scale build-up can also cause parts or elements of an appliance to block or break. This means appliances require much more maintenance to keep them working.
Eventually, appliances will stop working altogether due to scale build-up. That’s because mineral build-up dramatically reduces the lifespan of appliances. You’ll need to replace appliances much sooner than using a suitable water treatment solution, such as a water descaler.
Inefficient heating systems
The last warning sign of hard water you should know is the decreased efficiency of heating systems. While you may not notice any impact at first, the effects of hard water will soon start to kick in as scale build-up occurs.
Whether inside boilers, radiators, pipes, etc., scale build-up happens the same. As with appliances, this also causes heating systems to become less efficient over time. If you’ve ever found yourself turning the thermostat up because it doesn’t feel as warm, this is why.
Your heating systems will work harder to try and achieve the same heating output as before. This dramatically reduces the lifespan of heating appliances, too. Piping can also corrode or block as scale build-up accumulates and insulates the inside of pipes, restricting the pipe flow.
Here is how scale can build-up and insulate the inside of pipes:
What can you do about it?
If you have experienced any hard water warning signs above, now is the time to act before it becomes more costly. Fortunately, a simple solution can save you from such issues. An
electronic water descaler is the hero that can save you from hard water problems.
This small electronic device is connected to your main water inlet to prevent the problems associated with hard water. The device antenna is fitted to the pipe using coils of wire that wrap around the pipe, with the device fitted to the nearby wall.
When operational, the device emits a time-variant magnetic field to reform the calcium carbonate crystals. As a result, the minerals remain suspended in the water instead of forming solid deposits. The field emitted by the device is tailored to optimise descaling.
Unlike other water treatment methods, such as a water softener, a water descaler does not add any chemicals to the water, does not change the water pH, and the water quality is unaffected. The water is safe for drinking and cooking as no salt is added, as with the ion process used by water softeners.
Electronic water descalers do not soften water, meaning the health-beneficial hard water minerals remain in the water. However, using such a device provides many benefits besides overcoming the above mentioned problems. Benefits of a water descaler include:
- - A low-cost solution.
- - Reduces the amount of soap or detergent required.
- - It helps reduce water and heating bills.
- - Skin and hair health improves.
- - The device is self-monitoring and indicates any fault.
- - Maintenance-free can be left after switching on.
- - Easy to install.
Check out these water descaler FAQs