We all know how hard it is to clean the shower and tub when we have scale build-up. The water softener would make this process much easier, but do they remove existing scale?
Scale happens when minerals are dissolved in hard water and attach themselves to surfaces like faucets, pipes, and showers-causing buildup that clogs drains. Hard water, sediment in a tank, or a buildup of minerals in your showerhead can all contribute to scale
You’ve been looking for a way to get rid of your scale buildup in your home without using harsh chemicals that can be hazardous. A water softener could eliminate what you need to worry about, but does it work on scales already in place or just prevent new ones from showing up?
Does a water softener remove existing Limescale?
The water softener is designed to remove hardened limescale. Water softeners do remove existing scale from your household they also help to prevent the buildup of limescale in appliances. Soft water can also reduce soap scum and scale build-up on shower walls and tiles.
While it’s normal to see some scale in your water, the amount of calcium carbonate you have is significant. A water softener can reduce or eliminate existing scale by removing hardness from the incoming tap water. It will also help with any ongoing damage caused by hard minerals that are not removed through other means.
If you have hard water coming into your home, then a water softener will help reduce the amount of limescale that can be dissolved. Hardened limescale is flushed out through taps and appliances. Water softeners are designed to remove the hard water, but they do not cause scale build-up on plumbing fixtures or equipment.
Hard water enters the house with a calcium carbonate concentration of roughly 300 ppm. This amount is substantially lowered once it travels through a water softener.
This means that when softened water enters your pipes, it can dissolve the chalk and limescale deposits that have accumulated, mirroring the natural process by which water travels underground to form cave networks.
Hardness is removed from your pipes by your water softener and washed out through your taps, water-fed appliances, and down the drain over time. A little quantity of limescale will be present in the softened water that comes out of your taps while it is being dissolved. You’ll notice a reduction in limescale buildup in your kettle and other home gadgets that utilize softened water very quickly.
How long will water softener take to remove existing limescale?
It is difficult to say how long it will take for the hard water scale to completely disappear from your home. The time it takes to vanish entirely depends on the amount of scale you have in your home and how quickly the water softener removes that same amount of hardness.
However, within two weeks, you will observe the softened water dissolving the existing scale from your property. The length of time it takes to entirely disappear will be determined by the quantity of scale you previously have in your home.
Typically, you can anticipate
- The scale will be removed from your kettle in 6 weeks.
- The scale will be removed from your hot water cylinder in 6 months (or the heat exchanger in your combi boiler)
- The scale will be removed from the remainder of your piping after two years.
How does a water softener treat limescale?
The chalky from the mains water is sent through the softener when using a water softener. The softener eliminates the chalk and limescale, essentially introducing rainwater into the property, dissolving existing limescale, and restarting the cycle.
Water softeners restore the original condition of piping, boilers, and all of your domestic equipment, which may have been subjected to the limescale attack for years. As a consequence, they will last longer, be less prone to breaking down, and you will save a lot of money on cleaning chemicals – and maybe cleaners – as a result.
Furthermore, your surfaces and appliances will seem cleaned for a longer period of time. Water softeners, on the other hand, guarantee that limescale does not reappear by preventing hard water from entering your water system.
To summarize, water softeners permanently eliminate the plague of limescale, help keep your home appearing clean and wholesome – and ensure you save money on your household heating and cleaning costs in the years ahead.
Can Limescale Deposits Kill You?
Limescale is not toxic, therefore it can’t kill you. However, some medical professionals believe that drinking hard water with limescale on a regular basis might lead to kidney stones.
Limescale is primarily caused by hard water, which contains high concentrations of minerals. Hard water can also cause soap scum and white scales on fixtures and appliances.
The best way to prevent limescale is to use a water softener, but if you are unable to afford one or don’t have room for it in your home then using the combination of vinegar and lemon juice will help remove limescale deposits.
Lemon juice and vinegar, for example, are good cleaning agents for bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Wherever there are very persistent deposits, the even stronger acids found in lime juice and pickling vinegar will accomplish the trick.
To remove limescale from washing machines, pour a cup of vinegar into the drum and run the machine through a regular cycle. Vinegar also works nicely in kettles. Fill it to approximately a quarter of its volume and bring it to a boil before thoroughly rinsing it.
How to Get Rid of Limescale in your Household Appliances
Faucets
Faucets are the last thing you want to have a scale on. Faucet scales can be unsightly, especially when they’re in hard-to-reach places.
Water softeners remove hard scale, and also remove existing limescale. Hard water is most likely to cause limescale when there are high levels of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate in the water.
If there is any water flow blockage for faucets, showerheads, or ice makers then it’s time to call an expert plumber!
Toilet Bowls
Toilet bowls can build up a layer of limescale that will cause problems like clogged drains and toilets. Pour 4 cups of vinegar into your toilet bowl to remove existing scale, then let it sit overnight and make sure nobody uses the toilet. Scrub away with sandpaper or pumice stone after letting it soak overnight.
Bathroom tiles
Limescale is a build-up of calcium and magnesium salts that occurs when water is left to stand in hard water. To get rid of limescale you need to mix vinegar with some hot tap water and spray over the affected areas.
Allow an hour for this solution to work before scrubbing with a tile brush or rinsing with clean running cold tap water.
Kettles
Kettles are often used for making hot beverages, but they can also be used to heat water. Because of this versatility in use, there could be some scale build-up in it. The first step to getting rid of limescale is to make sure your kettle has been thoroughly cleaned. Rinse the inside with clean soft water after each cycle and use one cup of clean soft water for two cycles.
Showerheads
Limescale buildup is readily clogged in showerhead openings, faucets, and plumbing systems. Layers of limescale will continue to build up until your pipes are entirely sealed. If this occurs, your only choice is to either unclog or replace your plumbing system.
Conclusion
Testing your tap water is the only method to find out if you need to install a water softener. Water testing will provide you with information on what is dissolved in your water, such as ion concentration and bacteria and chemical toxins that are dangerous to your body.
A water testing kit is available at your local water treatment business. However, it is less expensive to see whether your local soil and water conservation center or university provides water testing services. In addition, they will offer more thorough data than simple water testing kits.
Mike Spencer
Hi Guys, Mike is a Mechanical Engineer who specializes in Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning. His love for humanity and his profession propels him to share useful and factual Information on this blog.