Hard water – how to deal with it?

Hard water is a very common phenomenon, the effects of which are visibly seen in the form of sediment precipitation. This scale not only looks unappealing but also causes a number of technical problems. You can learn more about them and hard water itself from our article. We invite you to read on!

Hard water –the most important information

The occurrence of hard water is due to the presence of calcium and magnesium cations, as well as, to a lesser extent, manganese and iron ions. There are two types of hard water. The first is carbonate hardness, also known as temporary or non-permanent hardness, which is formed by the carbonates and bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. Its characteristic feature is that these compounds can be easily removed by boiling. Inin the case of the second type of hardness – non-carbonate, also known as permanent – it is somewhat more difficult. Such water contains: chlorides, nitrates, sulfates, which do not precipitate upon boiling.

It is worth remembering: Hard water can be harmful not only to household appliances but also to health and quality of life.

The hardness level of water can be determined using a scale.According to the German standard, moderately hard water has a level of 9-12 dH, hard water 13-18 dH, and very hard water 19 dH and more. It is worth knowing that a level above 9 dH qualifies for treatment.

Negative impact of hard water

Unfortunately, using hard water comes with several unpleasant consequences. Among the most important of thesethe occurrence of limescale – the main problem associated with high water hardness, which causes, among other things: heat energy losses (scale from hard water is a much worse conductor of energy than steel), reduced system efficiency, flow instability, corrosion, and appliance failures; the intensification of dermatological problems – up tothe most common symptoms include: itching, roughness, and dryness of the skin;

• low efficiency of detergents and cosmetics – hard water translates to high surface tension of water, which makes it difficult for cleaning agents to spread. As a result, they need to be used in larger quantities, and consequently, more money has to be spent on them;
• worse condition of fabrics –a large amount of minerals in the water causes the colors of clothes to fade.

How to reduce water hardness?

Temporarily, hard water can be tackled with descalers, readily available cleaning agents, as well as home remedies such as vinegar or citric acid. However, nothing can replace specializedsolutions.

It's worth remembering: Regular cleaning of household appliances and plumbing can help minimize the negative effects of hard water.

The best way is to take preventive measures using water softeners, which you can of course find in our store. DevicesThis type exchanges magnesium and calcium ions for sodium ions, effectively reducing the hardness of the liquid.

Do you want to take care of the water quality in your home? Be sure to visit the Moja Woda store and check out the wide range of water softeners!

It's worth remembering: Installing a water softener can significantly improve the comfort of daily life.

Author: Maciej Waliduda - specialist at MojaWoda.com