Does hard water affect boilers? Hard water is a common problem in many parts of the UK, affecting up to 60% of households, and it can have a significant impact on the performance of boilers. In this blog post, we’ll explore the effects of hard water on boilers and what you can do to protect your boiler from damage.

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals are naturally occurring in groundwater and can be found in most areas of the world. Hard water can cause a variety of problems, including scaling, clogging, and corrosion. It can also reduce the efficiency of boilers by reducing heat transfer and increasing energy consumption.

How Does Hard Water Affect Boilers?

Hard water can cause a number of problems for boilers, including:

• Scaling: Scaling occurs when minerals such as calcium and magnesium build up on the surfaces inside the boiler. This build-up reduces heat transfer efficiency, leading to increased energy consumption and decreased performance. 
• Clogging: Limescale caused by hard water can also clog pipes and other components within the boiler system, reducing flow rate and leading to decreased performance. 
• Corrosion: The minerals in hard water can also cause corrosion of metal components within the boiler system, leading to leaks or other damage.

Protection Strategies for Boilers

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your boiler from damage caused by hard water. Here are some strategies you should consider:

A Water Conditioner: Installing a water conditioner is one way to change the way the minerals behave in your boiler’s feed water supply. This will help reduce scaling, clogging, and corrosion within your boiler system.

Regular Maintenance: Regularly inspecting your boiler system for signs of wear or damage is important for keeping it running efficiently. Make sure to check for signs of scaling or corrosion on any metal components within your system regularly.

Chemical Treatments: Chemical treatments such as de-scalers or anti-corrosion agents can help reduce mineral build-up within your boiler system over time. Be sure to use products specifically designed for use with boilers so that they don’t cause any additional damage to your equipment.

How will the Halcyan Water Conditioner help your boiler?

The Halcyan Water Conditioner has been tried and tested by forward-thinking households for more than 30 years! Over time the Halcyan will actually remove limescale from within your boiler and heating system, and elsewhere in the home. Once installed, it will keep limescale at bay and any water entering your house will ‘behave’ like soft water does within the pipes. This means that over time, you should see your appliances (including your boiler) needing fewer repairs and less maintenance, and even a delay to the replacement of your appliances, as well as lower energy bills.

Conclusion

Hard water can have a significant impact on boilers if left unchecked. Our recommendation is that a simple, cost effective solution is to install a Halcyan Water Conditioner to prolong your boiler’s health. We all know the pain and high cost of replacing a boiler due to unchecked limescale, especially when your boiler fails unexpectedly – and the solution is so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it years ago!

Want to know more about the Halcyan Water Conditioner? Find out how it works here or call our expert team on 0345 504 0656.

Why choose Halcyan?

Halcyan Water Conditioners is a British company based in Bristol and our alloy-based solution to hard water is unique to the UK. As leaders in our industry, our mission is to give our customers limescale-free, healthy and more enjoyable water experiences. We will always provide crystal clear, unbiased information for anyone considering a water conditioner – even if that means they don’t choose a Halcyan! With our pride in customer satisfaction and our 12 Month Money Back Performance Guarantee, you can put your trust into Halcyan Water Conditioners.

If you have hard water then you’ve no doubt noticed limescale in the home. While it’s not usually cause for any serious concern, it is unsightly and affects the efficiency of your appliances. Water Softeners have been the go-to solution for many years so if you’re wondering which solution is right for you then you’ve come to the right place!

When it comes to choosing a hard water treatment solution, there are a lot of factors to consider. From the size of your home to your budget and even your environmental goals, selecting the right product can be confusing. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the different types of hard water treatment solutions and what you should look for when making your decision.

So, what are the options?

Your hard water treatment options can be put into three categories: Water Softeners, Water Conditioners and Scale Inhibitors. They all work in different ways and with varying results, so it’s important you do your research before committing to any purchase.

As we mentioned before, Water Softeners (also known as Salt Softeners) are the traditional way of dealing with hard water. In comparison to other methods, they tend to be at the top end when it comes to expense, and they require regular salt top-ups for them to remain effective which adds to your ongoing costs. You can learn more about how Water Softeners work here.

A much lesser known solution is Water Conditioners. They come in a range of shapes and sizes which use different technologies. Because there is such a large range, pricing also varies, as does effectiveness. However, there are usually now ongoing maintenance costs associated with Water Conditioners which keeps the running cost low. You can find out more about Water Conditioners in this blog.

Last but not least, Scale Inhibitors are the third solution to hard water in the home. They are at the lower end of the scale when it comes to cost but they typically only protect one piece of equipment, not the entire home. For an overview of how Scale Inhibitors work, click here.

Factors to consider when choosing a hard water treatment solution

It’s important you thoroughly research the options before you commit to a hard water treatment solution. As we have already eluded to, there are three main types of solution which vary in cost, longevity and effectiveness. Here are some of the key points you should consider when researching the right solution for your home:

Type: As mentioned above, there are several types of water treatment solutions available on the market today. Consider which type best suits your needs before making your decisio

Cost: Different types of units come with different price tags so be sure to factor cost into your decision-making process.

Size: Scale Inhibitors are small devices which are fitted to each individual appliance, Water Conditioners are typically in-line devices that are plumed into your incoming water supply, while Water Softeners are usually much larger and may even require an entire cupboard to house them.

Maintenance: Some units require more maintenance than others so be sure to research how much maintenance each type requires before making your purchase.

Lifespan: The lifespan of hard water treatment options varies greatly, from just a few years up to 30+ years.

Environmental Goals: If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of your hard water solution, you may wish to avoid Water Softeners which use salt and expel briny effluent into the watercourse.

Conclusion

Choosing the right solution for your home can be tricky but with some research and consideration you can find one that meets all your needs and fits within your budget. Be sure to take into account size, type, cost and maintenance when making your decision so that you get the most out of your purchase.

To find out if the Halcyan Water Conditioner is right for you, call our expert team for free advice on 0345 504 0656.

Water conditioners are essential pieces of equipment for many households, but do you really need one? In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of having a water conditioner in your home and answer the question: do I really need a water conditioner?

What is a Water Conditioner?

A water conditioner is a device that treats hard water as it enters the home and affects the ability of limescale to form on surfaces and within fixtures, fittings and appliances. A good quality water conditioner will reduce existing limescale build-up and prevent more limescale from forming, so you don’t have to worry about descaling in your home or unnecessary repairs to expensive appliances. You can learn more about how water conditioners work and how they differ from water softeners in our helpful guide here.

Is a Water Conditioner a good investment?

Installing a good quality water conditioner will not only help to protect your home, but can actually save you money on your household bills, appliance replacement and even on household purchases such as cleaning products and detergents.

Save money on bills

Limescale is an excellent insulator so heating water requires a lot more energy when limescale is present. When you consider how often you heat water in the home (think showers, dishwashers, washing machines, kettles etc) the savings that can be achieved are considerable. In fact, just 3mm of limescale on a heating element can increase energy consumption by up to 25%! At current energy prices, the average household can expect to save up to £500 per year on their energy bills simply by treating hard water.

Reduce appliance maintenance and replacement

When limescale builds up in an appliance, it affects its efficiency and can ultimately lead to complete failure. By treating hard water, you’re preventing limescale build-up in your appliances which means they will last for much longer.

Spend less on household purchases

When hard water is treated detergents not only become more effective, but you need less of them to achieve the same result. This applies to shampoo, washing up liquid, and any other soap or detergent you use in the home so you can expect to reduce the amount you buy. And, as you’ll no longer be cleaning limescale from your taps and surfaces, you have less cleaning to do and need fewer cleaning products in the home!

Do I Really Need a Water Conditioner?

So now that we’ve explored some of the benefits of having a good quality water conditioner installed in your home, do you really need one? 

If you live in a hard water area then yes, we’d recommend you install a device to treat your water. Not only will you achieve the benefits of better behaved water, with a Halcyan Water Conditioner, you’ll benefit from 30+ years of hard water treatment with zero maintenance or ongoing costs.

Got questions?

Visit our FAQ page to find answers to our most commonly asked questions. Or, for advice from one of our experts, call 0345 504 0656.

Limescale is a common problem in many households and affects around 60% of the UK. It can cause a variety of problems, from damaged fixtures and fittings to the premature breakdown of expensive appliances. But why does limescale reduce efficiency? In this blog post, we’ll explore the causes and effects of limescale on appliance efficiency.

What is Limescale?

Limescale is a hard, chalky deposit that forms when calcium and magnesium precipitate out of hard water and bond to surfaces. It often appears as a white or grayish-white coating on surfaces such as taps, showerheads, pipes and on the heating element of your kettle. Over time, limescale can build up and become difficult to clean, and the longer it’s left the harder it is to remove.

How Does Limescale Reduce Efficiency?

Limescale reduces efficiency in two main ways: by blocking water flow and by reducing heat transfer. 

When limescale builds up inside pipes or appliances it restricts the flow of water. If you’ve ever had a shower head clogged with limescale, you’ll know how frustrating this can be and how often you have to clean it to maintain the optimum flow of water.

Limescale also reduces the flow of heat which means it takes a lot more energy to heat the water surrounding a heating element which is covered in limescale. This reduces the energy efficiency of water-heating appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and boilers, and energy bills are significantly higher as a result.

Limescale also reduces the lifespan of water-bearing appliances by causing corrosion and additional wear on internal components, so you can expect to replace your expensive household items up to twice as often.

How Can You Prevent Limescale Build-Up?

The best way to prevent limescale build-up is to treat hard water as it enters your home. There are various hard water treatment products on the market, from salt softeners to water conditioners.  They help keep your appliances running more efficiently and for longer without needing expensive repairs or replacements due to limescale damage.

While salt softeners are a traditional solution to the problem of limescale, they require ongoing maintenance and regular topping up of salt. If you’re looking for a passive, sustainable and eco-friendly means of treating your hard water, a water conditioner such as the Halcyan is a good choice. You can read more about your options in our no-nonsense guide to water conditioners and water softeners here.

Conclusion

Limescale can be a major problem for households which are supplied with hard water. Not only does it cause unsightly deposits on surfaces, but it can also reduce the efficiency of appliances over time due to blocked water flow and reduced heat transfer capabilities, leading to higher energy bills and  premature appliance failure. The most sustainable way to prevent this issue is to install a water conditioner in your home.

Why not take a look at our testimonials and discover why Halcyan is THE solution for sustainable hard water treatment in the home.

Limescale on your shower head and other appliances? We take a look into how to deal with this problem aswell as how to prevent future limescale build up.