Hard water is water which has high concentrations of the minerals calcium and magnesium. It causes limescale to build up on surfaces and in pipes and appliances around your home. Not only unsightly and difficult to clean, the limescale can itself cause a whole host of problems including energy inefficiency, reduced appliance lifespan as well as skin and hair issues. You may see all the signs of hard water around your home but how do you actually go about measuring water hardness?
Hard water is something that is typically determined by the geology of the region you’re living in as certain types of rock can alter the water you get. When rainwater falls, it’s naturally soft – it’s only when it comes in contact with the ground that its state can change. Passing through soft rocks, like limestone and chalk, causes rainwater to collect calcium and magnesium minerals. The presence of these compounds mean the water is now ‘hard’ and when heated, those minerals will combine to form limescale. The geology in the UK can vary greatly so this is why water hardness can change from area to area.
Water hardness is measured as a value of parts per million (ppm) of minerals to water. For example, water with 100ppm of hardness will have 100 pieces of mineral to every million drops of water. The map shows the levels of water hardness in the UK. As you can see, water is particularly hard in the East and South East with a ppm of 200 plus. You can find out the water hardness in your area by calling your local water company or by buying a home test kit. The test kit will give you a result in gpg which you can then convert using the table below.
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It’s obviously not a practical choice to move house just to have access to soft water in your home. By installing a water softener however you will get all the benefits of soft water, no matter which part of the country you are living in. Luckily, this is what we do best so all you need to do is get in touch and arrange your home survey with us today!
