Black scale/flakes in kettle - softened water

ThisIsWeird

Calcium seemingly more orangey-red.

grumbler

In the internet people suppose that higher concentration of iron can cause the scale to become black.

Joalwaysajob

worlestone said:

We had a water softener fitted a couple of years ago and since then the limescale in the kettle has been replaced by black/grey scale which flakes off into drinks.  Has anyone encountered this with softened water before? It does seem like replacing one problem with another!

We tend to fill the kettle with 50/50 cold/hot water as the hot tap is softened and the cold is not.  We live in an area with very hard water in Dorset

Hi, I also have the same issue as you.  We have a water softener and use only softened water in the kettle.  I’ve noticed on washing out the kettle occasionally that we have black/silvery bits which appear to be coming off the bottom of the inside of the kettle. (Plastic, Asda kettle.  No expense spared) I don’t notice it in our drinks or anywhere else but am puzzled.  We are also in a very hard water area.  I’m wondering if it’s some other mineral in the water?  So can’t really help you but can empathise! 

silvercar

Joalwaysajob said:

worlestone said:

We had a water softener fitted a couple of years ago and since then the limescale in the kettle has been replaced by black/grey scale which flakes off into drinks.  Has anyone encountered this with softened water before? It does seem like replacing one problem with another!

We tend to fill the kettle with 50/50 cold/hot water as the hot tap is softened and the cold is not.  We live in an area with very hard water in Dorset

Hi, I also have the same issue as you.  We have a water softener and use only softened water in the kettle.  I’ve noticed on washing out the kettle occasionally that we have black/silvery bits which appear to be coming off the bottom of the inside of the kettle. (Plastic, Asda kettle.  No expense spared) I don’t notice it in our drinks or anywhere else but am puzzled.  We are also in a very hard water area.  I’m wondering if it’s some other mineral in the water?  So can’t really help you but can empathise! 

I’ve never had this problem. Sounds like a chemical reaction between the softened water and the metal plate inside the kettle. I’m surprised that the bits aren’t caught by the net thing on the kettle spout. Could the kettle be made of a cheap coated metal surface on the kettle, and buying a more expensive kettle may solve the problem?