What is the Water Hardness in my Area?
Water Hardness by Postcode
Have you been searching "what is the water hardness in my area?" - use our water hardness checker to find out your home's water hardness by postcode.
If your results show a level of 100ppm or more on the water hardness scale, you could benefit from a water softener.
Please write the postcode in the format xx xxx | xxx xxxx.
has
Soft Water
Moderately Soft Water
Moderately Hard Water
Hard Water
Very Hard Water
ppm
Soft Water
Moderately Soft Water
Moderately Hard Water
Hard Water
Very Hard Water
Your home has soft water. Soft water is water which has relatively low concentration of calcium and magnesium. Your water should lather easily with soap.
Your home has moderately soft water. Soft water is water which has relatively low concentration of calcium and magnesium. Your water should lather easily with soap.
Your home has moderately hard water. A level over 100ppm means your home could benefit from a water softener. Moderately hard water has excess calcium and magnesium ions present. Over time this can lead to limescale build up. You may notice white spots on your surfaces and glassware.
Your home has hard water. A ppm level over 100ppm means your home would benefit from a water softener. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Hard water causes limescale build-up which damages your home and only gets worse over time.
Your home has very hard water. A ppm level over 180ppm means your home would benefit from a water softener. Very hard water contains very high levels of calcium and magnesium, which results in severe limescale damage which gets worse over time.
How to Soften Water at Home...
How Can a Hard Water Softener Help You?
-- Remove & prevent limescale permanently, reducing energy bills.
-- Keep your appliances running and lasting longer.
-- A natural treatment for eczema, dry skin & brittle hair.
-- Protect your boiler & pipework from damage.
Submit Your Details For a Free Water Softener Guide...
-- Submit your details using this web form.
-- We’ll send you a Water Softener Buyers Guide, containing everything you need to know about water softeners.
We can also answer any questions you might have and make recommendations based on your home's requirements.
Get More Information & an Online Discount Code...
The Water Hardness Scale & Hard Water Areas
Where your home shows on the water hardness scale depends on your postcode. Over 60% of the UK is classed as a hard water area. Find out more about the water hardness checker results below.
The water hardness scale is measured in parts per million (ppm) and for most hard water areas can range from 0 - 600ppm.
Want to see for yourself? Enquire with us for a water hardness testing strip to see how hard your water is.
What your Water Hardness Reading Means in Terms of Limescale Damage
Above 180 ppm Very Hard Water
120 - 180 ppm is Hard Water
60 - 120 ppm Moderately Hard Water
30 - 60 ppm Moderately Soft Water
0 - 30 ppm Soft Water
Above 180 ppm Very Hard Water
At readings over 180ppm, your home has very hard water, requiring water treatment with a water softener.
Very hard water contains very high levels of calcium and magnesium, which results in severe limescale damage which gets worse over time. Damages can cause issues with your boiler, taps, heating system, appliances and dry skin and hair.
120 - 180 ppm is Hard Water
Your home has hard water, requiring water treatment with a water softener.
Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Hard water causes limescale build-up which damages your home and only gets worse over time.
60 - 120 ppm Moderately Hard Water
Your home has moderately hard water.
A level over 100ppm means your home could benefit from a water softener. Moderately hard water has excess calcium and magnesium ions present. Over time this can lead to limescale build up. You may notice white spots on your surfaces and glassware.
30 - 60 ppm Moderately Soft Water
Your home has moderately soft water. Soft water is water which has relatively low concentration of calcium and magnesium. Your water should lather easily with soap. You should not require a water softening system.
0 - 30 ppm Soft Water
Your home has soft water. Soft water is water which has relatively low concentration of calcium and magnesium. Your water should lather easily with soap. You do not need a hard water water softener for your home.
Benefits of Soft Water & A Water Softener
Boiler Maintenance & Healthy Pipework
A water softener can remove and prevent limescale. New softened water can gradually dissolve old scale in your pipes and boiler. Protecting them from limescale damage.
Natural Eczema & Dry Skin Treatment
Research shows a link between hard water and dry skin conditions like eczema. Softened water can naturally treat & soothe dry skin & eczema. It reacts positively with skin products to help dry skin & hair.
Less Time Cleaning & Less Products
Less limescale & scum means you won't need to clean as often or purchase expensive descalers. You’ll save time cleaning & money on shopping bills.
Better Water Flow & Protected Bathrooms
A water softener prevents blocked shower head and damage to fixtures and fittings such as your glass shower screen. Your bathroom will be protected and you'll notice a difference on taps and surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen.
Cheaper Energy Bills & Household Bills
Soft water requires less cleaning product and 50% less washing powder & toiletries - due to more lather. This cuts the cost of household shopping bills and you can strike expensive descaling products off your shopping list.
Longer Lasting Appliances
Hard water damages appliances such as washing machines & kettles. Soft water cuts the cost of appliance repairs and replacements caused by limescale and appliances like showers, washing machines, dishwashers last longer, work better & need fewer repairs.
Want to know more about water hardness and how a water softener can help?
Request more informationFrequently Asked Water Softener Questions
For questions on water softener issues or problems - please visit our full FAQs page click here.
Are there any downsides to water softeners?
A water softener can save costs on bills, while protecting your home from expensive damage. However, in order for a softener to work there are some running costs. These costs may be considered a ‘downside’.
However the cost of salt is affordable and in the soft water benefits and costs savings are worth the small maintenance.
Why does soft water feel different?
Sometimes people may experience and comment on the different feeling of soft water - describing it as silky or slippery feeling water. This is entirely normal and is explained by the health level of minerals vs the harder deposits of calcium and magnesium that are found in hard water.
How long does it take to remove pre existing scale when you start using softened water?
You will start to notice the softened water removing existing scale from your home within two weeks but the process can take some time to complete.
The time it takes to disappear completely depends on the level of limescale.
Typically, you can expect:
- In 6 weeks, scale will be gone from your kettle.
- In 6 months, scale will be gone from your hot water cylinder and boiler.
Can I use a water softener with my boiler if it has an aluminium heat exchanger?
Yes.
There is some dated and old misinformation regarding central heating and water softening.
But actually, a boiler that has an aluminium heat exchanger will perform better with softened water. Please see Beama list the HHIC position on their website.
Can I use softened water for mixing baby feeds?
No. While softened water is healthy and safe for most children and adults to consume, there’s an exception for babies being bottle or breast fed. Soft water has some extra sodium which is not recommended for small infants.
Not to worry, in this case, you may wish to have the kitchen sink isolated from the water softener, so you can easily use hard water dor drinking purposes.
Can I use softened water for the chilled water dispenser in my fridge?
Yes, you can plumb your softened water supply into the water chiller of your fridge. You may also prefer to keep your drinking water hard and as it is. In this case you can very easily have the kitchen tap isolated from the softener.
Can you use softened water in a dishwasher?
Yes softened water is great for all your home appliances such as the dish washer and also washing machine.
It can also save money. When you normally add salt to your dishwasher, the dishwasher uses it to create its own softened water supply. If you install a water softener, you won’t need to do this anymore because the water that comes into the machine is already softened!.
What is Hard Water and What are Hard Water Damages?
Hard water contains higher levels of magnesium & calcium minerals. The water hardness in your area, depends on the hardness by postcode. It is created when natural soft rainwater falls on porous rocks and ground.
Hard water will always cause damage - there is no escaping it, only living with it and paying the price as damage adds up over time.
- Lots of limescale – in your kettle, around your taps & fittings, on your shower head etc. It can cause damage to washing machines, dishwashers and cause corrosion, damage and make them less efficient.
- Limescale build up can occur inside your pipes. Meaning your heating and hot water system will be less efficient.
- The excess minerals in hard water can reside on your skin & react negatively with shampoos and shower gels - damaging the skin’s protective barriers, leading to dryness or skin conditions.
- Hard water doesn’t lather well, so you typically need to use more detergents, toiletries and cleaning products.