If you live in a hard water area, chances are you’ve noticed limescale build up on taps, kettles and shower screens. Scale buildup can damage appliances over time, reduce efficiency and increase running costs. Installing a water conditioner is the best solution.
But what exactly is a water conditioner and how does it work? Let’s take a look.
What Is a Water Conditioner?
A water conditioner is a system designed to treat hard water by changing the behaviour of the minerals that cause scale, primarily calcium and magnesium.
Traditional water softeners use an ion exchange process to remove these minerals from your water. Conditioners don’t. Instead, they alter the structure so they cannot stick to pipes, heating elements and household surfaces. In essence, they prevent limescale buildup without removing healthy minerals from your water.
How Does a Water Conditioner Work?
Water conditioners use technology to change the chemical properties of hard minerals in your tap water. They change the form of calcium, magnesium, and calcium carbonate (limescale) to stop it sticking to your pipes.
Water runs through the conditioner and the tech inside alters the structure of mineral crystals. The minerals are still present but no longer bind with other materials.
Here’s what happens:
- The minerals aren’t removed from your water
- Conditioning changes them into non-scaling minerals
- They flow through your pipes without causing harm
Our water conditioners also don’t need salt, chemicals or electricity to work.
Water Conditioner vs Water Softener
Water conditioner or water softener, what’s the difference? Water softeners work by removing hardness from water through an ion exchange process. They filter out calcium and magnesium minerals and replace them with sodium ions.
Water conditioners don’t remove minerals from water. The main differences are:
Water Conditioner
- Softens water by changing the structure of minerals
- Protects against scaling
- Water stays free of sodium chloride (salt)
- No salt or chemical top-ups required
- Zero wastewater produced
- Conditioners require little maintenance
Water Softener
- Ion exchange process which replaces hardness minerals with sodium
- Requires frequent salt additions
- Produces wastewater during regeneration
- Works continually to remove minerals from water
- Constant maintenance and running costs
Water conditioners are often preferred if you want to stop scale from forming and protect your appliances without the need for salt or electricity.
Benefits of a Water Conditioner
Here are just some of the many benefits of installing a water conditioner in your home:
1. Stops Limescale Buildup
Preventing scale is perhaps the biggest benefit of using a water conditioner. Building up inside boilers, pipework, dishwashers and washing machines reduces efficiency and causes wear over time.
By stopping scale forming, you’ll keep appliances running smoothly and help extend their lifespan.
2. Enhances Energy Efficiency
Scale is an excellent insulator and as little as 0.05mm of limescale on your heating elements can impact efficiency.
Conditioned water allows your appliances to run how they were intended to, helping you cut down on energy bills.
3. Spend Less Time Cleaning
Hard water stains and white residue on taps, tiles and shower screens are a common frustration. Conditioned water leaves far fewer stubborn marks, meaning less scrubbing and fewer harsh cleaning products.
4. No Salt and Little Maintenance
Water conditioners don’t require salt or chemical top-ups and don’t undergo regeneration cycles like softeners. They use no chemicals and many models don’t even need electricity to work.
5. Keeps Naturally Occurring Minerals
A great advantage of water conditioners is they don’t filter out calcium and magnesium from your water.
These naturally occurring minerals are good for you, so keeping them in your water is important.
Why Should You Choose a Halcyan Water Conditioner?
Halcyan water conditioners are designed to provide whole-house limescale protection without salt, chemicals or ongoing maintenance.
Halcyan conditioners transform hard minerals into non scaling form so that they cannot stick to surfaces or form limescale.
Compact design, long lifespan and easy installation mean they’re ideal for tackling hard water problems.
Conclusion
A water conditioner changes the structure of calcium and magnesium minerals so they cannot form limescale. It protects your appliances and plumbing, reduces energy usage and saves you time on cleaning.
No salt is required and there’s zero maintenance involved, making them an ideal long-term solution for homeowners.
Still wondering what a water conditioner is? Get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to explain it to you further.
