A reasonable question!

Dealing with the problems of hard water can be a real headache. Especially when there are several different and interchangeable names for systems on the market. So what is a hard water filter? Do these systems even exist? If not, then why is the term used? In this article we’ll answer all the above and clarify what the devices on the market are that you’ll want to research when looking for a solution to your limescale issues.

Water Filters

The concept of water filters is fairly straightforward, they are designed to filter out additives and impurities in the water. In theory then hard water filters should exist? This is both right and wrong, most water filters do not filter out hardness. Instead, filters tend to remove things such as chlorine from the water. There are filter that can remove hard water minerals from the system, the most used being reverse osmosis systems. However it is important to note that running these filters is very costly, as such they aren’t often used to treat the whole house. So specialised hard water filters aren’t what you should be looking for when trying to treat your hard water. So what should you be searching for?

Water Softeners

Water softeners are currently the most well know devices used for treating limescale. In short water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove the hard water minerals from the water using a process known as ion exchange. Salt is a key part of this process which is why these systems are sometimes called salt softeners. Water softeners do just what they say on the tin, they provide the household with soft water. However, there are several downsides with this method. Water softeners take up a lot of space, have ongoing running costs, require regular upkeep and maintenance and aren’t very environmentally friendly.

Water Conditioners

The other option is the lesser-known water conditioners which come in several different shapes and sizes. Conditioners deal with limescale by targeting the hard water minerals and changing the way they behave rather than removing them. This results in water that is still hard, but that doesn’t build up scale inside appliances and on surfaces. Instead, you can expect a fine easy to clean residue on these surfaces instead. Because Water conditioners are quite diverse and use different methodologies they can vary in quality and in the benefits they can bring.

Final Thoughts:

So what is a hard water filter? There are several different devices which deal with the issue in different ways. But for the most part there is no such thing as a specialised water filter and you should be looking into water softeners or water conditioners to deal with your limescale problems. If you’d like to know more about how the Halcyan water conditioner can help prevent limescale and keep your filter working longer then please check out the rest of our site!

A matter of taste

Sadly hard water isn’t the only issue homeowners face with their water supply. In many areas across the country various chemicals are added to the water system, whilst these are important in keeping the water safe to drink they can often affect the taste of the water negatively. A great example of this is chlorine. So if you’re dealing with limescale by purchasing a water conditioner you may be wondering, does a water conditioner remove chlorine as well? In short no, a water conditioner will not remove chlorine from your water, here’s why.

What is a water conditioner?

First off it’s worth briefly touching on what a water conditioner is and what it does. Water conditioners are systems designed to treat limescale, but without using salt like traditional water softeners do. These systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes and use different methods to deal with hard water. The basic goal of theses systems is the same, to treat limescale by altering the way hard water minerals behave rather than by removing them.

Why don’t they help with Chlorine?

So, water conditioners don’t remove anything from the water so right off the bat they don’t remove chlorine. But the systems do alter the way hard minerals behave, so does this affect the chlorine and other chemicals? Sadly not. These systems are specifically designed to target hard water minerals.  As such they have absolutely no effect on other components in the water. Whilst some systems, such as Halcyan, may affect the electrical conductivity of the water, making it feel softer, this doesn’t impact the poor taste caused by chlorine.

What does remove chlorine?

So if a water conditioner doesn’t help with chlorine then what does? The systems you should be looking at if removing chlorine and other additives is on the agenda are filters. Water filters are specifically designed to remove things such as chlorine from the water so that it is more pleasant to drink. Filters can come in many forms, from jug based to inline systems. It is important to note that these filter systems (barring expensive reverse osmosis devices) don’t remove hardness from the water. So if you do also want to get rid of your limescale then you’ll need a conditioner alongside your filter. The advantage of this however, is that the working life of your filter will be increased by the conditioner keeping the hard water minerals in solution.

Final Thoughts:

So does a water conditioner remove chlorine? Sadly not, you’ll need a water filter if you want your tea to taste just right! If you’d like to know more about how the Halcyan water conditioner can help prevent limescale and keep your filter working longer then please check out the rest of our site!

The well known option

If you’ve been looking at treating your hard water the first systems that you will see are water softeners. But as you read more into these devices you may have noticed that they aren’t the most environmentally friendly systems. Water softeners create a sodium backwash or brine solution which is released into the water ways during their regeneration process. This of course begs the question, are there more environmental friendly solutions to the issue and are there eco-friendly water softeners as an alternative?

What is the impact of water softeners?

The main environmental problem caused by softeners is the release of chlorides into the water ways, whilst in the UK the effects of this are fairly minimal in other areas of the world where water is more scarce water softeners add to a growing issue of water contamination, for this reason water softeners are banned in some areas. The other environmental issue is water usage. Water softeners use extra water in their regeneration process, when water is scarce this is a wasteful use of water.

However, it isn’t all bad. Water softeners, despite their issues can help the environment by preventing limescale accumulation. The question then is whether this makes up for their other sustainability downsides?

Are there better versions?

There are much more efficient makes and models of water softeners which go a way towards addressing the issues we’ve just mentioned. More efficient systems, particularly metered models, use both less salt and less water in their regeneration process. But whilst this does reduce the softeners impact it doesn’t remove it completely. Another way in which water softeners can reduce their impact is through using potassium instead of sodium, this is more expensive however and comes with its own environmental implications.

Is there an alternative?

Whilst an eco-friendly water softener isn’t something that is available there are alternative systems designed to deal with hard water and limescale. These are known as water conditioners. Most conditioners require minimal maintenance (if there is any at all), don’t add anything into the water and don’t use up extra water in their process. Some conditioners, such as the Halcyan are also very long lasting. The Halcyan can treat a home for 30 years without a reduction in efficiency. This means fewer replacements and therefore less waste. If sustainability is important to you then it will be more than worth your while to take a look at water conditioners.

Final Thoughts:

So is there such a thing as an eco friendly water softener? Sadly not, but there are models that do a better job and more importantly alternative water treatment systems available. If you’d like to find out more about Halcyan in particular please check out the rest of our website!

What are your options?

If you’ve been looking into dealing with your hard water problems the first solutions, you will have seen and heard about are water softeners. Whilst these systems work well, they are not without their significant downsides. They require regular upkeep including regular purchase of salt, they take up a lot of space, require a separate drinking tap and most importantly aren’t great environmentally. For these reasons you may have started looking into water softener alternatives. Luckily if a water softener isn’t for you there is another option! In this article we’ll take you through Water Conditioners, the water softener alternative, and why you might want a conditioner over a traditional salt-based water softener.

What is a water conditioner?

Water Conditioner are systems which treat hard water by targeting the hard water minerals directly rather than removing them as water softeners do. There are several different kinds of water conditioner ranging from electronic to catalytic all the way to TAC (template assisted crystallization) systems. Whilst these systems all differ in their methodology the end goal is the same. To change the structure of the hard minerals in the water so that they behave differently and no longer bond to surfaces.

How do they differ?

There are several key differences between water softeners and water conditioners, the most obvious is that water conditioners do not use salt in their process. This makes them (as a rule of thumb) better for the environment. Conditioners as mentioned previously do not remove the hard minerals from the water and instead alter the way they behave, this means that conditioners do not soften the water, though some brands can offer some of the benefits that soft water provides. Conditioners, barring TAC systems are usually much more compact than water softeners and are much easier to fit.

Why a conditioner over a softener?

So why would you choose a conditioner over a softener? There are three reasons you would opt to choose a water conditioner as an alterative:

• You do not want to deal with the upkeep, costs and maintenance a water softener requires
• You are concerned about the environmental impact a water softener can have
• You lack the space for a water softener

If your main concern is to have true soft water in your property then the only way to achieve this is through using a traditional water softener or expensive Reverse Osmosis systems.

Final Thoughts:

Hopefully this article has given you a good summary of the available alternative to traditional water softening. If you would like to delve into more detail on the different kinds of systems available please make sure to follow the links scattered throughout the article. If you’d like to know more about Halcyan how it works and the benefits it provides then please take a look through the rest of our website:

What is a Scale Inhibitor?

A scale inhibitor is a device designed to reduce the amount of limescale formed in hard water areas. These devices are usually compact and designed to protect single pieces of equipment such as a boiler. But there appear to be many of these systems available. So how do you differentiate them and how do you know if they are effective? We’ll try to answer these questions as best we can in this article.

How do they work?

There are several different mechanisms which inhibitors use to reduce scale. Many purport to use similar methodologies to water conditioners. Most scale inhibitors tend to be magnetic or electric systems with several electrolytic systems also available.

These devices lack key benefits that water conditioners offer, such as the ‘soft water lifestyle benefits’. Inhibitors tend to be fit into properties in order to meet building regulations stipulating that a scale prevention device must be placed before the boiler of new build properties. As rule of thumb scale inhibitors have short lifespans. Usually inhibitors last around 5 years with the longest-lived lasting up to 10 years.

Why and when should you get one?

If you want an effective whole house solution to your limescale issues, then an inhibitor is not likely to be the best solution. But if you aren’t troubled by the many problems limescale causes and simply want to ensure that your boiler is kept running efficiently with minimal expenditure then scale inhibitors fit the bill. The key things to look out for are the lifespan of the units, you will need to remember to replace them periodically to ensure your boiler remains protected.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully this has given you a good grasp on what to expect with scale inhibitors, if you would like to know more about where they sit in the wider market then please check out our in-depth overview of the water treatment options. If you are interested in our whole house system, then please take a look through the rest of our site!

Hard Water and its impact

If you live in a hard water area you are no doubt used to the problems it causes. Hard crusty limescale on surfaces and fixtures, not to mention boilers and other expensive appliances dying long before they should. Many of us in hard water areas simply accept these nuisances as facts of life and continue about our days without giving the hard water menace any more thought. But this is a mistake, hard water is not only treatable but very much worth your while. We’ve picked three of the best reasons why you should treat your hard water now!

Save Money!

Everyone loves to cut costs and we’re happy to report that you can do just that by treating your hard water. At first glance this may seem counter intuitive, especially when you see the costs of some of the options out on the market. But what is not as obvious is the cumulative negative effect limescale has on your finances.

The biggest waste of money comes from limescales effect on heating elements. As limescale builds up on a heating element it begins to impact its performance. For every 1mm of limescale on a heating element the energy needed to provide heat is increased by 7-10%. As you can imagine, there is usually a lot more than 1 mm of build-up. This means as time progresses your energy bills will increase up until the built-up scale finally kills the heating element. That of course, leads to costs of replacement, for what are often very expensive pieces of equipment, such as your boiler and washing machine.

Not only does limescale increase energy costs as well but cleaning costs too. In order to remove scale deposits you will need to regularly purchase descaling chemicals such as Viacal. You will also go through products such as shampoo much more quickly as soaps do not lather as effectively in hard water. All these problems can be mitigated or removed entirely by treating hard water.

Save Time!

Cleaning Limescale is not easy. The deposits are tough to remove and can build up all across the bathroom or kitchen, especially in hard to reach areas where water collects. Even when using powerful descalers the process is still time consuming. By treating your hard water this tiresome chore can be made much, much easier. Meaning you can spend your precious hours on something much more fulfilling instead!

Save the Planet!

Climate change and sustainability are an area of special concern, and rightfully so. What is barely mentioned in discussions about sustainable housing and development is the effect of hard water on energy use.

As we mentioned previously hard water can severely reduce the efficiency of boilers and other appliances. 14-18% of your homes energy use comes from water heating and this is without the negative affect of limescale taken into account. As mentioned previously, limescale builds up on heating elements severely impacting their efficiency, requiring more and more energy to use. This will of course increase the carbon footprint of a home over time. Not only does limescale waste energy it also leads to material waste as well with ruined boilers and other appliances needing to be scrapped. The descaling chemicals used to clear limescale deposits are also environmentally unfriendly.

By treating hard water you can address all of these issues. You can scrap all the descaling chemicals. Your boiler and expensive equipment will live longer, meaning less waste. Finally because your heating element will be kept efficient you will save carbon, approximately half a tonne of CO2e!

Final Thoughts

So it’s safe to say that treating hard water is worth your time and effort! But the market has all sorts of options, which one should you go for? The answer will depend on your specific circumstances and needs, if you’d like an overview of the different types of system on the market please check out our article going through this. If you would like to know more about the most sustainable system on the market, the Halcyan then please have a look through the rest of our website!

What is the Residue?

In this article we’ll be taking a closer look at what to expect with your Halcyan installed in regard to the residue we mention on our website. In short the easy to clean residue on surfaces is the treated minerals being left behind when the water evaporates. So with the Halcyan and any conditioner you should expect to see this residue in areas such as your taps, showerheads and Shower Screens.

It’s all well and good describing this but much better to show you!

The video below is a montage of different areas of the bathroom and the residue that has accumulated and then this residue being cleaned. This residue has been left on these surfaces for 2 weeks, which tends to be a bit longer than most people wait to clean their bathrooms! Furthermore no descaling chemicals such as Viacal were used in the cleaning of this residue.

How, why and where it forms

So what is this residue? As a conditioner Halcyan doesn’t remove the hard water minerals from the water it instead alters their structure changing the way they behave.

Because the minerals are still in the water, when it evaporates e.g. on a shower door, anything in the water will be left behind. With untreated water these minerals will chemically bond to the surfaces leaving you with the familiar hard and difficult to remove limescale, but with Halcyan the minerals are simply left resting on the surfaces, as a non-bonded residue, ready to be wiped away as part of your normal cleaning process and without the need for stronger anti-limescale chemicals.

This change lasts around 21 days (far longer than other conditioner systems on the market which usually do so for between 24-72 hours). After these 21 days the minerals will start to revert back to their original structure, meaning that any residue if left uncleaned, will begin to harden into back regular scale.

What about the Kettle?

The kettle is a different beast. Due to the high temperatures on the heating element the reaction is undone, and a thin layer of hard scale will build on the heating element.

To dig down a little further, since the Halcyan doesn’t remove the minerals they are still present in the water you use to make tea. The thin layer you’re seeing is the calcium carbonate precipitating onto the surface, due to the very high temperatures on the heating element or hot plate, which temporarily reverses our process, but then that layer is being dissolved by the treated water surrounding it.

This process of ‘deposition’ and ‘removal’ happens on a continuous basis when the element is heating. The important thing is not to empty your kettle each time you use it or there will be no surrounding water left to dissolve any bonded particles. From time to time, this thin hard layer will break up and need swilling out. The layer has no detrimental effect on any heating elements,

What the Residue looks like

So what exactly does this residue look like? It should appear as a white or yellowish, almost crystalline substance. Mostly it will be soft and easy to wipe away, simply with a damp cloth or your hand. In some areas it may be a little harder to remove and will require a touch more elbow grease but the key tell is that it will come off without the use of descaling chemicals such as Viacal Our earlier video showed some examples of the different kind of residue you should expect to see.

Final Thoughts

We hope this article has helped paint a clear picture of what to expect with a Halcyan so there are no surprises when you fit! But if you do need some further clarification then please get in touch with us using our contact details below.

What is a salt free water softener?

It is important to start this article by making a correction. Technically there is no such thing as a salt free water softener in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. But don’t go running just yet, the term you’re looking for is water conditioner. There are several different kinds of salt free device designed for treating limescale, you can see a general overview of these methods here and some more in-depth examinations of products on the market here. These devices generally all try to do the same thing. That is treat the hard water minerals directly in order to change the way they behave in the system thereby preventing limescale. But like any system water conditioners have their pros and cons.

Cons

Let’s start with the bad news first. Water conditioners, as we’ve established, target the hard water minerals directly. This means that these minerals are still in the water and the water is still technically hard. Hence the point about salt free water softeners not existing. This means that many conditioners are designed to only treat the limescale and nothing else. So the water won’t feel soft and won’t feel nicer on skin and hair, like you would expect with a traditional water softener. There are some exceptions to this and you can find them in our comparison blogs and documents. For the most part soft water benefits are a premium extra rather than something to expect with conditioning systems.

The other problem with the conditioner approach is that because hard water minerals are still present in the water, in areas where water evaporates you might still see scale with some systems, with others you will find that a fine, easy to clean powdery residue is left behind, we go into detail on how this manifests in our system here, but you can find this information on other products websites or by getting in touch with the companies directly. With water softeners this won’t be the case. For some people, an easy to clean residue might actually be a pro, it depends entirely on the expectations of the system.

Pros

Now onto the good stuff! The pros of water conditioner systems are primarily based around their size and methodology. A water softener requires a lot of space and regular top ups of salt. It will also use up large quantities of water in its regeneration process. Conditioners have none of these issues, all are compact and require no salts nor use any extra water in their process. Furthermore these systems are often maintenance free with premium conditioners lasting between 20-30 years before needing replacement. Not only does that mean long term savings over a softener but also from the prevention of limescale.

Conditioners are the perfect fit and forget solution to limescale. Once installed they deal with the key issue, the formation of limescale, with no extra costs or effort required. Water Conditioners are also more environmentally friendly than Water softeners as they do not release sodium ions back into the water course, you can read more about the environmental impact of water softeners here and the environmental impact of water conditioners here. Some conditioners such as the Halcyan can also offer some of the ‘lifestyle’ benefits of water softeners, such as the water feeling nicer on skin and hair. Make sure you check with the manufacturer before purchasing a conditioner on these grounds, however.

The next step

So as in any industry there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches to the limescale issue. As a customer the key is to establish what the main things you want to tackle are when shopping for a solution. Do you want pristine surfaces and are willing to shoulder the expense and effort required to achieve this? Then a traditional water softener is probably the way to go. Do you want to tackle limescale with minimal effort and have some extra bonuses thrown in? Then a premium water conditioner is the item of choice. We hope this has given some food for thought in your search for a limescale solution. And remember a salt free water softener is a water conditioner! If you’d like to learn more about our water conditioner, the Halcyan, please take a look at the rest of our site!