You keep noticing limescale deposits on your taps, dishes. Your liquid foams poorly, you add more. Your laundry needs more powder added. The ubiquitous limescale requires the use of additional products. What can you do to ensure that water hardness does not complicate the comfort of your home ?

What is water hardness?

The hardness of water is a property that describes the concentration of certain elements in it. We speak of hard water when it contains calcium ions, magnesium ions and other metals. The more of these ions there are, the harder the water is. The concentration of these main elements determines the total hardness. Both compounds crystallise easily and contribute to the formation of sediment.

Degrees of water hardness

The recommended water hardness according to standards is 60 to 500 mg CaCO3/dm3, and on the German scale is 3.36 to 28 dH. Water in the water supply can vary depending on where it is located on the map. Its taste can also definitely vary depending on the degree of hardness.

The hardness of the water can be checked visually by assessing the amount of limescale on the heating elements or by the amount of foam that will form when detergent is added. Hard water can also be identified by taste. However, the most common way to check what kind of water we are dealing with is by using special equipment and reagents.

Effects of water hardness in the home

The hardness of water is a characteristic that has a definite effect on its surface tension. The higher this tension, the more difficult it is for water to wet surfaces. As a result, it is more difficult to wash stains out of fabrics or wash dishes. As a result, you have to use more detergents, powders or fabric softeners. With very hard water, it is easy to observe that soaps and liquids simply do not want to lather. The degree of hardness of the water also translates into the condition of the household appliances used. Hard water causes limescale to build up in the kettle, dishwasher or coffee machine. If you are a fan of aromatic coffee or tea, you have certainly had occasion to notice the hardness of the water used to prepare it. Sediment from very hard water can be seen in your mug or cup after a hot drink. The consequence of too hard water can also be discolouration in the sink, bath or shower.

The higher failure rate of cookers and radiators is also linked to water that is too hard and limescale build-up. In addition, heat loss occurs as a result. Limescale that builds up on the heaters can significantly affect their burnout. In the worst case scenario, scale can cause pipe blockages, which can reduce water pressure. You can read more about too low a pressure in the pipes here. With water that is too soft, on the other hand, there is a risk of corrosion. The most uncomfortable consequence of using hard water is dry skin after washing. The condition of your skin and hair depends to a large extent on the quality of the water you use for care.

Ways to soften hard water at home

It is important to remember that water hardness and limescale are closely linked. Limescale is caused by the calcium salts and magnesium salts, among others, contained in the water. In general, softening hard water involves the partial or complete removal of calcium and magnesium ions from the water. There are many methods for removing water hardness.

The simplest way to high water hardness is through heat treatment, i.e. cooking. In the process of increasing the temperature, the acidic calcium and magnesium carbonates are broken down. Surely you have seen more than once a deposit in your kettle after boiling water. This is hardly soluble calcium carbonate, known as limescale.

Another simple method of obtaining soft water is to freezing. However, the process of subjecting water to low temperatures is lengthy and not very practical.

A very effective way of softening water is to replace calcium and magnesium ions with natural sodium ions using a device such as a water softener. The softening process in this case involves the slow percolation of water through the so-called ion exchange resin contained in the device. Water hardness has determined a wide range of softeners on the market, differing in capacity or additional features for ease of use. Notable ones include Water Technic water softeners Polish manufacturer Technika Wody. The brand's devices allow you to precisely select the parameters to suit your needs. Definitely for the most demanding users.

Water Technic water softener

Other filtration systems available on the market are jugs with replaceable filters. They are inexpensive, but are mainly for small consumption.

A quick and relatively economical method of softening hard water is to use ready-made chemicals. Food reagents in this case could be: lemon juice, citric acid, acetic acid or baking powder.

Increased water hardness can also be reduced by synthetic chemicals in the form of powder or tablets. They help to preserve the long life of appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and coffee machines.

As you can see, water hardness is a characteristic that affects many aspects of our lives and health. There are many ways to soften water. It all depends on the scale of the problem, the needs of the individual user and also the contents of the wallet.