Life with Hard Water

Life with Hard Water

What is Hard Water?

To understand why there is hardness in our domestic water you have start at the very beginning of the cycle – rain.

Rain water is naturally soft; however, as it percolates through the ground it changes. This means the water from our taps varies depending on the type of ground it has travelled through and what it’s absorbed along the way.

This basically means the water in your home will depend on the surrounding geology.

E.g. The water in East Anglia is rich in dissolved magnesium salts (bicarbonate, chloride, sulphate and nitrate) and calcium carbonate (limestone) due to the dominant chalk layer deep underground.

East Anglia

As water is drawn from various places across the region, different areas will have varying degrees of hardness.

In the East of England the water will either be very hard or aggressively hard. Hardness is measured in parts per million (PPM).

Due to our local knowledge and years of experience, our expert field staff are aware of the water hardness in your area.

However, we can also test the water to show you exactly what the PPM level is in your property so you know for your own peace of mind.

This map indicates the areas of hard and

soft water in the UK...

Q: What is the outcome of hard water?

A: Limescale.

The minerals in hard water (calcium & magnesium), whilst natural, have a number of negative effects for your home, health and family.

You will no doubt be familiar with the result of hard water in the form of limescale.

Limescale in your home:

Limescale is a common problem in hard water areas such as East Anglia.

It is a residue which builds up over time causing scale damage throughout your property.

It appears on surfaces making them difficult to clean when left untreated. The scale continues to build up in the home, affecting appliances and heating systems and any other products that have hard water running through them.

The most visual impact of limescale in the home is predominately on chrome, glass or granite appliances, fixtures and fittings:

Taps
Shower doors
Saucepans
Metal draining boards & sinks
Glass kettles
Shower heads
Granite worktop

The limescale not only looks unsightly but, in the case of the shower head, can clog it up and depreciate the efficiency and flow over time.

It is only improved with the use of harsh cleaning chemicals or special products for shower heads or complete replacement.

Your household appliances and pipes are also damaged by limescale as it builds up over time. Limescale causes corrosion to your heating pipes, hot water cylinder, and your kettle heating elements, washing machine and dishwasher internal workings.

The scale makes them all less efficient and more prone to repairs. By removing the limescale, you protect all your appliances from these damaging effects.

They work better, last longer and therefore cost you less money over their lifetime with reduced or no servicing required.

FACT:

Figures show that just 1/4” (6mm) of scale in a pipe will increase your heating cost

by 50%!

Limescale and your skin & hair...

When you live in a hard water area you will be familiar with the limescale that builds up in your home, around your taps and inside your kettle, etc...

...Now think about the fact that the same build-up which damages your home is also on your hair and skin.

Skin…

Washing your face and body in hard water can dry out your skin and strip away moisture.

When calcium and magnesium react with your skin’s natural oils, they create a waxy build-up which you can feel on your skin.

Even if this is not evident to the touch, the effects of the waxy impurity build up can be seen in clogged pores, which in turn cause irritation and sometimes breakouts.

Have you ever noticed a scummy substance in your bath, shower or sink? It looks like soap curd.

This is called scum and it can also irritate your skin.

Hard water minerals prevent soap from lathering properly so you need much more product than necessary to get any small amount of lather.

This scum then creates a soap layer on your skin which in turn can dry the skin out or cause irritation.

The residue left on the skin can worsen dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

The NHS website lists that “water – especially hard, chalky water or heavy chlorinated water as a common irritant of con tact dermatitis.

For more information about eczema and hard water, follow this link:

Eczema

1 in 5 children & 1 in 12 adults

suffer with or are affected by eczema

Hair…

You may have noticed the difference in the condition of your hair when you've travelled between hard and softened water areas.

The minerals in hard water mean you will need much more product to get your hair feeling clean.

Hard water destroys lather so as a result you will use more shampoo which in turn increases the risk of developing a product build up on your hair and scalp.

This can cause itchiness, dandruff and the appearance of hair being heavy, limp, dull and lifeless.

It has been said that washing hair in hard water can damage hair colour and cause dye to fade quicker but it also means you are likely to be using 50% more shampoo and conditioner than if you were in soft water.

So the impact is not just on your hair, but your pocket too.