Hard water is present in most areas of Ireland. It contains the naturally occurring mineral calcium. Calcium itself is good for our health but may damage our household appliances by way of limescale formation. Rainwater is naturally soft, which means it has a low to no levels of calcium. When rainwater seeps into the ground, it absorbs minerals as it passes through soil and rocks. This process can make the water hard.
How do we save our appliances then? Well, that’s where a water softener comes in. We can install water softeners near to where water comes into your house. This way, when water passes through the softener, the entire house’s water can be treated. We then bypass the softener with a separate line so that you still have the minerals in your drinking water.
Hard water and limescale
Limescale is a white coating or build-up on boilers, water pipes and heated appliances like showers and kettles. Here are some adverse effects of hard water:
- Limescale build-up reduces water pressure by to clogging pipes.
- It is not suitable for kitchen appliances and heating systems as it may reduce the usefulness of detergents or soaps. The use of water softeners removes calcium from the water to prevent limescale.
- Limescale build-up causes heated appliances to break or break down.
- Constant washing of garments in hard water can harm their filaments and decrease their life expectancy.
How do I know if I have hard water?
If your water is very hard, you won’t even need to ask that question! You would have seen the limescale build-up on heated appliances, or maybe even tasted bits of limescale in your tea. However, Irish Water has an excellent little tool that allows you to check the hardness of the water in your area. While it doesn’t have data for the whole of Ireland quite yet, your part of the country just might be covered. You can find that here: https://www.water.ie/water-supply/water-quality/water-hardness/
That said, if you are considering a water softener, we recommend getting a hard water test. The type of water softener you get will depend on how hard your water is. Get in touch with us to today to avail of a completely free hard water test. You can request the free analysis here: https://perfectwater.ie/free-hard-water-test/
Leave a Reply