11 Signs of Hard Water Limescale Damage

Hard water is water which contains an excess of calcium and magnesium. Over 60% of homes in the UK suffer from hard water and its costly damages. Most homeowners know they have hard water and often experience the effects of unsightly limescale on a day-to-day basis. However, not everyone is aware of just how much damage hard water can cause. This poses the question, Is Hard Water Damaging Your Home? And what are the signs of hard water limescale damage? 

Do you recognise any of these 11 signs of hard water limescale damage?

• White chalky deposits that coat your taps, shower screens & glassware.
• Blocked taps and clogged shower heads.
• Limescale & Scum in your kettle & cups of tea.
• Reduced water pressure from your taps or shower.
• Boiler and heating problems.
• Broken or damaged appliances and problems with your washing machine or dishwasher.
• Higher than expected energy bills.
• Spending a lot of time cleaning and money on cleaning products.
• Skin problems including eczema, dry skin and acne.
• Laundry that still appears dirty with stubborn stains.
• Needing to use excess showering products, with no lather.

How is Hard Water damaging your home?

The signs of hard water can be clearly visible, but the damage sometimes is a little harder to see. For example, limescale deposits can coat the inside of your pipes, taps, boiler and home appliances. Eventually, this build-up causes permanent damage to your home, such as:

• Broken appliances. Limescale breaks down the heating elements in washing machines, dishwashers and even your kettle. Over time, your appliances seem less efficient: laundry that doesn’t seem clean, dishes which are still dirty and cups of tea that contain limescale scum. Eventually, your appliances will break down and be beyond repair, leading to costly replacements.
• Blocked taps and clogged shower heads. Hard water deposits block taps and showerheads, reducing the flow of water in the home. If left untreated, these fixtures and fittings will need to be replaced.
• Heating Issues & Higher Bills. By coating the inside of your pipes and heating system, limescale insulates your pipes. This means more energy is required to heat your water and home – resulting in an inefficient heating system and higher energy bills.
• Boiler problems. Nobody looks forward to a boiler breakdown. From call-out to repair fees - the cost can be high. Limescale builds up inside of your boiler, which eventually leads to blockages and permanent damage. You may even find yourself needing a complete replacement in just a few years.
• Damages to home renovations. Renovating your bathroom and kitchen is an exciting and expensive process. If you have hard water, you may notice white scale deposits coating your glass screens, taps and surfaces, after just a few weeks. The truth is, there is no way to protect your kitchen and bathroom from these damages without a water softener.
• Hot tubs and Jacuzzis. Hot tubs are an expensive – yet worthwhile purchase. But did you know, that hard water and limescale can cause internal damage to water jets and pipes? This damage reduces the water flow from the jets and can eventually lead to breakdowns.

How to prevent hard water damage

Without action, hard water damage can be inevitable. The only real way to remove hard water and prevent damage to your home is with a water softener. Water softeners work by intersecting your main supply of water and filtering out excess calcium and magnesium. They completely remove all limescale, leaving you with soft water. The soft water produced can actually break down and reverse existing limescale damage.

Want more information on the benefits of soft water or how a water softener works? Get in touch with us today – call or leave your details and we can call you back.