How to Prevent Limescale in Your Home

You may have noticed a white stain or chalky deposit in your plumbing system. That chalky white deposit is what is known as limescale. It is usually formed when either hard water combines with soap residue or when hard water is boiled. Limescale can be seen in your kettles, boilers, taps, and other appliances that come into contact with water.

Effects of Limescale

When limescale builds up in your appliances over time, it is usually tricky to remove. It is, therefore, more manageable, cheaper, and less time-consuming to prevent the buildup in your home rather than wait until you call a plumber to remove it. The following are some of the most common problems caused by hard water and limescale:

• Blocked radiators, shower heads, and faucets
• Water pressure loss as a result of lower pipe diameter
• Bacterial development in water supply pipes
• Repairs and replacements of home goods such as kettles and washing machines
• Heating pipe replacement
• Sensitive skin irritation
• Hair that is dry, dull, and brittle
• Energy loss in hot water systems and a rise in energy expenses
• Detergents that are less effective, resulting in clothes that never really get clean even after repeated washing

How to Prevent Limescale Buildup

It is worth noting that limescale buildup reduces the efficiency of your appliances, so you are likely to find yourself replacing them often. Limescale deposits in your home are unsightly, as they can make walls, pipes, and flooring look stained and poorly maintained. They may ultimately devalue the value of your property. The following are some of the ways that you can avoid the accumulation of limescale in your house.

Invest in a Water Softener

If you have hard water in your house, you should consider a water softener. Remember that limescale is caused by hard water. To avoid limescale buildup, it is essential to invest in a water softener that reduces hard water elements. Water softeners come in tablet, gel, or powder form. You can use a water softener with soap and other cleaning detergents while cleaning your home for the best results.

The water softener that is installed as a part of your property’s plumbing can remove the hard water properties in your water by the process of ion exchange. In the process, hard water elements, including magnesium and calcium deposits, are removed from the water. Once removed, it results in soft water, so there will be no further limescale buildup in your appliances. Nonetheless, you must check your water once in a while to ensure it has sufficient salts to function effectively.

You can also decide to install a salt-free water softener. Salt-free water softeners work by neutralizing the magnesium and calcium minerals by altering their chemical structures. As a result, the mineral deposits will not attach to your appliances. These are cheaper and more economical than regular water softeners.

Use a Water Filter

A water filter is another appliance that you can employ to help you prevent the buildup of limescale in your home. The water filters can remove the calcium and magnesium minerals present in hard water, which are responsible for the formation of scale. To make effective use of water filters, you should place them in your taps and faucets, where they will filter the magnesium and calcium salts from your water. You will then use soft water, which does not form scale deposits. The water filters are usually similar to cartridges, and you can replace them every so often.

Use Lemon Juice and Vinegar

Vinegar and lemon or lime juice can be a cost-effective solution to avoid scale buildup in your appliances. The chemical qualities of the combination enable it to eliminate any scales from your equipment. This may be accomplished by periodically flushing your appliances, including kettles, coffee makers, and sink, with the combination. The only downside is that vinegar and lemon juice both have strong tastes and smells, which not everyone likes, and their tastes can linger in coffeepots and kettles for a couple of uses.

Invest in a Magnetic Water Conditioner and Descaler System

If you want to avoid limescale production at the source, a magnetic water conditioner and a descaler system are worthwhile solutions. The magnetic water conditioner and descaler systems are designed to prevent limescale accumulation across the entire water system. The conditioning system and descaler can magnetize that water, keeping it suspended and preventing it from accumulating on pipe walls and other water-contact equipment. They are placed near the main water line.

Additionally, the magnetic field created by this technology may be used to remove existing scale deposits and soften the water in your system. After a successful installation, the magnetic water conditioner and descaler systems may save you money on limescale removal costs.

Regularly Clean your Appliances

Give close attention to areas where you are likely to find water deposits, such as baths, sinks, and showers. To effectively prevent buildup in these places, wipe all wet fittings immediately after using them. When the appliances are dry, there is no limescale buildup. Since the water has not evaporated, the mineral deposits that make scale cannot develop. It would also be best if you cleaned up any limescale deposits on your appliances to prevent further buildup.

Drain your Heater

Limescale is generally attracted to hot water. If you use hard water, your water heater will likely have limescale deposits. To prevent this, drain your tank at least once a month. It would be best to regulate the water temperature so that the lime deposits do not form much residue.

Draining your water heater goes a long way toward preventing a further buildup of limescale that may damage the water heater or clog it. It will also maintain the efficiency of your appliances. Preventing the formation and buildup of limescale can help you to save on energy bills and keep your home looking as good as new.

Your HVAC and Plumbing Experts

Blue Bear Plumbing, Heating & Air is a reliable HVAC and plumbing expert in Boston, MA. We are experts in leak detection, pipe repair, water heater drains, gas fitting, and all of your heating and cooling needs. Our energy-efficient AC systems and cost-saving services allow you to save money while staying comfortable. We also install indoor air purification systems to keep your home healthy. Our expertise will keep you calm while the temperature rises.

Trust our heating solutions to keep you warm as winter approaches. Our skilled service technicians can handle emergency repairs, new programmable thermostats, and new heating installations, including furnaces, heat pumps, and other heating systems. Our experts are regularly trained to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to solve your specific needs. Besides, we are OSHA-certified, BBA A+-rated, and EPA-certified. We have been serving our neighbors in Boston and all of Suffolk County since 2017, so give us a call today to get the expert help that you may need!