HOW IT WORKS

Water Softening... the facts

Despite everything we know about limescale, it’s amazing how many people choose to live with it and its effects, when there is a simple way to banish it from the home: the humble water softener.

For many people who have had water softeners for decades, they wouldn’t live without one. The new modern water softeners are a massive improvement on the older models and the energy and cost savings that accompany an investment in one make the investment worthwhile.

Limescale forms inside pipes, radiators, cylinders, pumps and boilers. Just 1,6mm build-up of scale can cause a 12% loss in heating efficiency from the heating system – that’s a massive waste and it has a massive cost implication too. Scale will also form around the heating coil and eventually fill a hot-water cylinder.

Many areas in the UK have a water supply that is naturally 'hard'. Hard water is formed when calcium and magnesium are dissolved by rainwater as it filters through natural layers of chalk and limestone.

In order to avoid the effects of hard water the calcium and magnesium need to be removed from your water, to produce so called 'softened ' water. You can tell that you have hard water when your kettle 'furs up', you can't get a lather with your shampoo and you see white scale around taps and bathroom fittings.

Water softening is most effectively carried out by using an ion-exchange water softener. This equipment replaces the calcium and magnesium with sodium (from salt). Such water softeners need to be topped up with salt from time to time to maintain their efficiency.

In the UK, the main areas of 'hard ' water are in the south and east of the country but there are no set boundaries so if in doubt you should check the hardness of your water with your local water company.

Benefits of softened water

There are strong cost and efficiency benefits to using soft water:

Use less soap and detergents since softened water lathers well
No build up of scale. Boiler and heating systems use less fuel and have a longer life
Household appliances remain free from scale and therefore last longer
All equipment and household fittings need less cleaning
Water feels luxuriously silky to the touch and may improve the condition of hair and some skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis.

Most commercial, industrial and public sector organisations soften their water. Businesses such as hospitals and hotels find it essential to soften their water supply because they then use less soap, detergent and cleaning materials and their bills for heating and replacement equipment are reduced.

Whilst business has long known the efficiency benefits of using 'softened' water many people also discovered the clear benefits of having the water in their homes softened in this way.

Small scale ion-exchange water softeners can now be purchased which fit neatly under the kitchen sink. The resulting 'softened' water produces lots of lather - so less detergent/washing powder is used, it feels 'silky' as it runs over your skin, improves hair condition and can benefit some sufferers of skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis. In addition you can rest assured that your washing machine and any other household appliances that heat water will last longer and be more effective with the absence of scale - providing energy savings and reducing capital outlay on new appliances.

Dishwashers: Most dishwashers have their own built-in water softener. Provided you keep the salt reservoir topped up with salt, this water softener protects the dishwasher from the harmful effects of scale build up and ensures that softened water is used in the wash to produce good cleaning results every time you use it.