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Especially in the warmer months, when water consumption naturally increases, households often face an unpleasant problem – limescale. Do you want to get rid of limescale for good? Find out how it forms and what effective prevention methods exist.
How does limescale actually form? It consists of calcium and magnesium deposits – minerals that are commonly present in drinking water and are beneficial to health, but in higher amounts cause so-called hard water. You can easily recognize it by white spots on dishes, tiles, or fittings. Limescale also creates deposits where you can't see them, such as in washing machines, dishwashers, or coffee makers. These and other appliances may one day fail due to limescale.
Limescale also destroys pumps, boilers, batteries, heating coils, and appliances; in industry, it can damage technology, and in the commercial sector, it is a problem in places like wellness centres, laundries, or cafes. And repairs or replacements of equipment are far from the only costs – hard water leads to higher consumption of cleaning and laundry detergents, and clogged appliances have lower performance, thus consuming more energy and water.
Washing machines, dishwashers, and boilers are very sensitive to hard water
You usually see limescale only when your appliances are already clogged, it's too late to soften the water, and it can't be removed from critical areas. Therefore, it's advisable to measure water hardness preventively.
You can try home test strips from the drugstore or a simple water hardness test by pouring water into a clear bottle and adding a few drops of soap. Shake the bottle thoroughly. If a rich foam forms and the water remains clear, you don't have to worry about limescale. In the case of hard water, only a little foam will form, and the water will remain cloudy.
If you want precise and reliable data on the amount of minerals in the water, you can contact local waterworks (in the case of tap water) or a professional laboratory. However, be cautious of some water filter sellers who offer free analyses – these are usually marketing tricks, and their water analyses are not reliable.
There are a number of water filters on the market. If you're dealing with hard water, a hard water filter or water softener will help you. They are divided into:
Salt-based water softeners – use ion exchange. Water is flushed through resin, which captures calcium and magnesium ions and replaces them with sodium ions. These softeners require electricity and regular salt replenishment.
Salt-free water softeners – a less common type. Calcium and magnesium precipitate into small crystals. Softeners contain special granules and do not require electricity.
Other types of water softeners (e.g., polyphosphate, magnetic, etc.) do not have proven effectiveness or are not suitable for drinking water.
With ion exchange water softeners, you can set the desired output values, so you don't have to worry about losing essential minerals. Other water parameters remain unchanged, which is very important for water quality. Devices that remove all dissolved substances from water (most commonly reverse osmosis) create distilled water, which is harmful to health and undrinkable.
In households with hard water, we recommend choosing a central solution and softening the water at the entry point to the building. A cheaper option is a point solution, where you soften the water only at a specific tap, usually to protect the boiler or washing machine. In industry, this method protects specific technologies.
The Honeywell KaltecSoft Water Softener is an ideal solution for family homes (in a smaller version for 7 people) and commercial operations, where it can soften water for about 15 or 21 people (in the largest version). It works on the principle of ion exchange, and you can easily set the desired output water hardness. The softener automatically adjusts its performance and capacity based on consumption. You'll also appreciate its easy installation, operation, and maintenance.
Honeywell Water Softener
Besides softeners, you may come across a variety of other types of water filters, some of which are justified in certain cases, but most can actually worsen water quality if used inappropriately.
If you draw water from waterworks, you can be sure it is safe and of high quality. If you are sensitive to chlorine, you can remove it using a carbon water filter.
Water from private sources requires filtration and treatment. For the correct selection of filtration devices, a water analysis is indispensable. It will reveal what impurities are in your water. Mechanical filters capture solid impurities, while water treatment plants remove various dissolved substances (e.g., nitrates), and in the case of microbiological contamination, you must disinfect the water.
Investing in a water softener usually pays off within a few years. Initial costs are around 30,000 CZK, while the lifespan of washing machines and dishwashers is extended by about 4 years, and energy consumption (e.g., of boilers) can be reduced by up to 13%. In soft water, the consumption of cleaning and laundry detergents is also significantly reduced, and you won't have to invest in limescale removers.
We are happy to advise you on choosing the right type and capacity of softener. For a free technical consultation, feel free to contact us.
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