Here in the UK we are well known for our great love of tea so it's important to get that perfect cuppa every time. Have you ever noticed a build-up of white deposits on the element of your kettle however? This is a result of hard water and is known as limescale. Limescale may look harmless enough but can actually do a lot of damage. So what is hard water doing to your kettle?
Hard water is water which has a high concentration of the minerals calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals combine with heat to form limescale which is deposited on various surfaces around your home, as well as on the working parts of household appliances such as your kettle, washing machine and dishwasher. This will result in greater wear and tear and malfunctions. Not good news if you rely on these appliances in your day to day life, especially as they can be expensive to replace. Whilst limescale is not hazardous to your health as such, it can have a number of adverse effects for your kettle.
Limescale has a huge effect on the efficiency of your kettle as it will take longer to boil your water. This is because the lime scale will prevent the element from heating the water effectively. It is also because energy is expended on heating the limescale rather than the element and the water. Not just that, the minerals in water are hard and abrasive substances and will corrode the element of your kettle. As the water boils, the calcium deposits rub against the metal element – wearing away at it. The higher concentration of minerals in hard water results in greater wear and tear. Limescale build-up will corrode the element even faster. In most cases, this corrosion is not noticeable until the limescale has been removed. Continuous corrosion from the hard water on the element will eventually cause the element to burn-out. If the deposits are allowed to build-up, a burn-out is even more likely. This is an electrical hazard and will mean that you will have to replace your kettle. Repairing a burnt out kettle is not recommended and in most cases, not cost effective.
In short, the best thing that you can do is install a water softener in your home. Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium from your water supply thus preventing the formation of limescale. There are various types of water softener to suit all needs so the best thing to do is call in the experts for advice.
Luckily for you, we are those experts! Book a home survey with us today for your free, no obligation quotation and get on your way to beautifully softened water throughout your home.
