Limescale!

Kamran

Hello all,

Limescale keeps depositing itself in the kettle and the shower head. I'm having to get rid of it using "oust" from the supermarket once every 6 months on average. This got me thinking about the effect limsecale is having on the rest of my home.

Is limescale a big enough issue on my pipes and appliances for me to do something about the water coming in? Having done a search online and bit of reading I understand there are different approaches, from filters and chemical sieves and that sort of stuff.

Is the investment in one of these devices (that essentially the water into my home must pass through) worth it? Could it save me money in prolonguing the life of my pipes and appliances, or is it a bit of a gimmick?

Furthermore I hear that some devices/boxes work for some parts of the country depending on the water mineral composition/concentration?

Any advice or opinions would be much appreciated!

Thanks! :T

Kam

yangptangkipperbang

Limescale doesn't come into your house as an individual entity.
It comes dissolved in your hard water when you heat it or let the water stand for a long period the limescale forms on hard surfaces.

There are many so called "cures" for limescale - the overwhelming majority of which are snake oil !!

The only thing that WILL work is a "proper" water softener. For domestic use it will be an ion exchange unit.
But you need to be very careful here. Lots of ex double glazing and PPI salesmen have moved to selling water softeners. If you are not careful you will be convinced that the one you need is 3 times of the price of the cheapest one - but the cheapest one will do the job just as well (Of course they forget to mention that !)

A softener should cost around £500 and will use salt (quantity various on the hardness of your water). There will be a huge saving on the amount of soap, detergent, cleanser, etc, etc you use - which usually covers the cost of the salt.

There are several good threads on this site on softeners.

PS: DO NOT buy a softener that uses block salt............

jellie

I live in a very hard water area, and have had a ScaleWizard (just google it) device fitted for about 5 years. It doesn't stop limescale forming, just stops it sticking apparently.

From a couple of months after I installed it (not that there is much to install) I haven't had to use limescale cleaner once, not even in the kettle. Costs about £80 to buy.

Ben84

Every six months isn't so bad really. I'm descaling the kettle and shower head every couple of weeks. Anyway, citric acid is the best thing I've tried so far. It's cheap, works fast, traces left behind are harmless as it's something you eat in citrus fruits, and I think it's better for the environment than most the other descalers available.

A long term solution like a whole house water softener is appealing too, but they're pretty costly just to avoid descaling the kettle and shower head. Fortunately the boiler doesn't have such a bad time with scale as the water inside it doesn't get changed often (it should have some scale inhibitor added too). Tankless and instant water heaters might have a bad time however if you have hard water.

Kamran

Ben84 wrote: »

Every six months isn't so bad really. I'm descaling the kettle and shower head every couple of weeks. Anyway, citric acid is the best thing I've tried so far. It's cheap, works fast, traces left behind are harmless as it's something you eat in citrus fruits, and I think it's better for the environment than most the other descalers available.

A long term solution like a whole house water softener is appealing too, but they're pretty costly just to avoid descaling the kettle and shower head. Fortunately the boiler doesn't have such a bad time with scale as the water inside it doesn't get changed often (it should have some scale inhibitor added too). Tankless and instant water heaters might have a bad time however if you have hard water.

Thanks very much. I do like the idea of a softener being installed, but my question is do I really really need it? ie, what sorts of appliances are being "damaged" or made less efficient with limescale and is it worth my while investing this sum of money into preventing limescale deposition?

shegar

Hard water affects , washing machines,showers, bath taps, sink taps,immersion heaters,kettles toilets........

Water softener will pay for it self by using so much less washing powder,hair shampoo, conditioner,washing up liquid,dishwasher tabs, bathroom soaps, cleaning products, and buying new showers/heads......

Plus your sinks , showers,baths will keep alot cleaner without the hard water........Less cleaning to do .............
Also ive got very dry skin which itches very badly before I had the softner fitted, now I dont need moisturises after a shower or bath.......

Would I be without mine, no way ..

Kamran

shegar wrote: »

Hard water affects , washing machines,showers, bath taps, sink taps,immersion heaters,kettles toilets........

Water softener will pay for it self by using so much less washing powder,hair shampoo, conditioner,washing up liquid,dishwasher tabs, bathroom soaps, cleaning products, and buying new showers/heads......

Plus your sinks , showers,baths will keep alot cleaner without the hard water........Less cleaning to do .............
Also ive got very dry skin which itches very badly before I had the softner fitted, now I dont need moisturises after a shower or bath.......

Would I be without mine, no way ..

Thanks! I'm sold pretty much. Roughly how much should it cost inclusive of installation? I've had salespersons knocking on my door but have always been suspicious!

Pinklepurr

I live in an area with very hard water. In my previous home I went thru numerous washing machines and irons due to lime scale damage. It would appear anywhere that came into contact with water. The taps, around the toilet bowls and showers etc. I spent a lot of time and money on trying to get rid of it but nothing was ever really effective.

I recently moved to a new build property and decided that one of my first priorities was to get a water softener. I wasn't going to allow limescale to ruin my brand new home! I am so pleased that I did as cleaning the bathrooms is a breeze! We are also using less cleaning products and toiletries. I suffer with psoriasis and it has helped a bit with that.

We went with a Kinetico model due to the small space we had available (under the kitchen sink). Fitting took the best part of a day but it was top quality work. It can be removed if we should ever move house too.

Innys

Kamran wrote: »

Thanks! I'm sold pretty much. Roughly how much should it cost inclusive of installation? I've had salespersons knocking on my door but have always been suspicious!

Don't go to a water softener firm - you'll get ripped off.

Source a softener off the Net (I bought mine from Fountain Softeners) and pay a plumber to fit it for you. It should take them no more than half a day if they know what they are doing.

I bought a softener as I was sick of having to clean limescale stains off the shower screen. Even with a softener, I still need to squeegee the screen after a shower but it only takes 5 mins and the shower looks like new, 1 year later.

I haven't noticed a reduction in my useage of cleaning materials but that doesn't mean there hasn't been one.

shegar

Kamran wrote: »

Thanks! I'm sold pretty much. Roughly how much should it cost inclusive of installation? I've had salespersons knocking on my door but have always been suspicious!

I bought mine 9 yrs ago, its a Monarch make, it was £400 new, plumber fitted it about £120 that I can remember.........

When we moved house I brought it here , had plumber fit it again and its perfect................Best get local plumber to quote you..........

sillygoose

Ben84 wrote: »

Every six months isn't so bad really. I'm descaling the kettle and shower head every couple of weeks. Anyway, citric acid is the best thing I've tried so far. It's cheap, works fast, traces left behind are harmless as it's something you eat in citrus fruits, and I think it's better for the environment than most the other descalers available.

A long term solution like a whole house water softener is appealing too, but they're pretty costly just to avoid descaling the kettle and shower head. Fortunately the boiler doesn't have such a bad time with scale as the water inside it doesn't get changed often (it should have some scale inhibitor added too). Tankless and instant water heaters might have a bad time however if you have hard water.

Me too, I'm in a very hard water area. I buy a kg of Citric Acid off Ebay, lasts ages and ages as it only takes a couple of tea spoons in a kettle. As you say, non toxic too. Also keep a solution of it (made up with distilled water from my dehumidifier free!) in a spray bottle for doing sinks and taps.