Hard water is something that affects UK households every day, and you may not even realise you have it. Although safe to drink, untreated hard water can cause problems for your home and day-to-day life that go far beyond just white marks on your cups.
In fact, everything from increasing energy bills to dry skin and limescale can be attributed to hard water. In this guide, we’ll explore how hard water affects your day-to-day life, and what you can do about it.
What is Hard Water And Why Does it Matter?
Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. These aren’t harmful to your health but they can lead to chalky white stains that cling to just about any surface, better known as limescale. While you might already know some basic symptoms of hard water, here are a few more ways it can affect your day-to-day life. Read here to find out more about what limescale is.
Your Morning Routine Isn’t as Refreshing as it Should Be
Did you know that hard water can cause dry skin and hair. This is because it’s so difficult for moisture to penetrate through the residue that hard water leaves behind, possibly leaving you feeling worse than before your shower.
The same goes for washing your hair. Not only can it make your hair more difficult to manage day-to-day, but it can lead to dull hair over time.
Using More Soap (With The Same Results)
Think about how much soap you use each day. From your shampoo to your washing up liquid, if you have hard water you probably use more than you should have too. Instead of creating a bubbly lather, soap reacts with hard water and creates a film-like residue.
This means you need more soap to get the job done, while still seeing limescale stains and residue. It may not feel like a lot of extra effort when you wash your hair or empty the dishwasher, but think about how much more soap you may go through in a year. Not to mention that even with the extra washing you may still be left with stiff clothes or dirty-looking surfaces.
Quietly Damaging Your Appliances
If you have hard water, you’re probably used to seeing limescale build up around your sinks, baths, and coffee machines. But have you taken the time to check your appliances? When heated, hard water causes limescale deposits to be left behind on the inside of kettles, boilers, washing machines, and dishwashers.
At first, it won’t seem like much, but over time it can cause your appliances to work harder than they need to. Not only will it take longer to get your clothes clean or your kettle to boil, and it can considerably decrease the lifespan of your appliances.
Leading to Build-Up in Your Pipes
While limescale is easy to spot on taps and kettles, it’s also building up where you can’t see it, inside your pipes. As these mineral deposits accumulate, they can gradually restrict water flow and reduce water pressure.
Again, the effects of hard water take years to develop and you might not even realise your pipes are blocking until it’s too late.
Cleaning Feels Like a Never Ending Task
Do you wipe down your taps or shower screen only for white marks to appear again a few hours later? Hard water creates limescale deposits that can be seen clearly even with the naked eye. Not only do they make your surfaces look dirty, but they’re actually tough to get rid of.
You might find yourself going over the same surfaces again and again or having to use stronger commercial cleaning products to try and get your home sparkling again.
You Could Be Paying More for Energy Bills
Hard water can actually make your appliances less energy-efficient. When water is heated in your kettle or boiler, limescale build up acts as an insulator making it harder for heat to pass through.
That means more energy is required to heat your water to the same temperature, eventually raising your bills.
Say Goodbye to Hard Water
Traditional water softeners work by completely removing the minerals from your water, and while this does prevent scaling, it comes with maintenance issues of its own, requires salt, and needs regular servicing.
This is where a water conditioner is different. By using advanced polymer technology, our conditioner changes the behaviour of minerals in your water. It stops them from clumping together to form limescale, without removing the beneficial minerals contained in your water.
So, not only can you stop scale building up in your kettle and on your taps, but you can also prevent the hidden issues of hard water. From your appliances to your water flow and energy bills, a water conditioner can help you tackle hard water.
