One topic we get repeatedly asked about is the residue left on surfaces with the Halcyan installed. This is a very important aspect of any water conditioner system to be aware of. Especially if you’re used to a traditional water softener. So we’ll be taking a more in depth look into what the residue is, what it isn’t and how it makes your life much easier.
What a Water Conditioner does
So to get to the bottom of the issue we have to touch on how Water Conditioners, like the Halcyan, work. Unlike traditional softener systems a water conditioner system doesn’t remove the hardness from the water. The minerals such as calcium and magnesium are still present. A water conditioner treats these minerals directly, altering their chemical composition so that they behave differently in solution. What this means in practical terms is that calcium no longer forms limescale in the same way it would in untreated water, despite the water still being hard.
What is the residue and why is it present?
So, the minerals are being treated and not bonding as they would usually. Then why is there residue on surfaces? This is because the minerals, despite having been altered, are still present in solution. When water sits on a surface, a shower screen for example, it will eventually evaporate. The minerals however do not evaporate with the water and are left behind as normal.
In an untreated system these minerals would form hard crusty scale quite quickly. This would leave you with the familiar task of scrubbing away the build-up and using descaling chemicals. With a good quality water conditioner the hard minerals are left on the surface in their benign state and do not bond as they would previously. This is the residue, the hard water minerals left resting on the surface.
What does this look like in practical terms
With the Halcyan and other premium conditioner systems existing scale is removed from the system. If your system has had a lot of previous build up prior to installation, you may find that there is quite a lot of residue. This is because the Halcyan begins bringing the existing limescale back into solution, temporarily increasing the concentration of hard water minerals in the water thus increasing the level of residue for a short while. Once this has been cleared away however the quantity will decrease rapidly.
So this residue is not limescale in the traditional sense. It is far easier to clean requiring no harsh descaling chemicals and a light scrub at most. In many cases a simple wipe with a cloth is enough to dislodge and remove the residue on surfaces. The most important thing to be aware of is that the change brought about Water conditions is time limited, with the Halcyan this lasts for approximately 21 days. So if the residue is left on a surface for longer than this period it will begin to form scale. For the most part 21 days is ample time to clear away any build up, especially since cleaning will have been sped up substantially.
Now you know what to expect!
So now you know what the residue with a water conditioner system is and why it occurs. Hopefully, this has clarified this important aspect of our system for you! We want to make sure all cards are on the table so that you are happy with your purchase and the great results that Halcyan brings. Read about this in even more detail on our article covering Halcyan’s results below!
