HARD WATER

How Do I Know If I'm Affected by Hard Water?

Water that has high levels of mineral content such as calcium and magnesium is commonly known as hard water. 65% of the British population is affected by hard water with those most commonly affected by hard water living in North East, Midlands and South East England.

To find out whether water hardness affects your area and to see whether you could benefit from having a SESI fitted you can either download the new FREE SESI Hard Water App or alternatively you can view the hard water area map below.

Hard Water Area Map

Type of water can vary dramatically across the UK from soft water to moderately soft to very hard water. Most areas of England, particularly the east between the Severn and Tees estuaries, are considered to be 'very hard'. Wales, Devon, Cornwall and parts of North-West England are softer water areas.

MODERATELY HARD TO VERY HARD WATER

200-300ppm

If you live in an area with moderately hard to very hard water you are more than likely to suffer from the common symptoms of living in a hard water area:

• Unsightly deposits around your taps and shower head.
• Hot taps running slower than normal.
• Appliances such as kettles, washing machine and boiler breakdown frequently.

Not only will SESI prevent the common symptoms of hard water but it is a legal requirement and is in accordance with Part L Building Compliance Guidelines.

'Where the mains total water hardness exceeds 200ppm provision should be made to treat the feed water to reduce rate of the accumulation of limescale.'

Find out more about how SESI can help you.

SLIGHTLY HARD TO MODERATELY HARD WATER

100-200ppm

If you live in an area with slightly hard to moderately hard water you could slightly be affected by the damaging effects of hard water. It is possible that your appliances, such as your washing machine, kettle, boiler and hot water system, could be affected by scale build up causing them to get much hotter than they really should until they overheat and breakdown.

As a result you may suffer from unsightly deposits around your showerhead and taps as well as costly call outs for the maintenance and repair of damaged appliances.

To over come this SESI could help prevent the build-up of limescale and ultimately prevent unnecessary damage to your appliances. Find out more about SESI.

SOFT TO MODERATELY SOFT WATER

0-100ppm

If you live in an area with soft to moderately soft water you are unlikely to suffer from scale build up and deposits around taps and shower heads. Your appliances should work at their optimum performance without the damaging effects of limescale. You should benefit from a reduction on repairs, replacements and maintenance to your domestic heating devices.

In this instance having a SESI fitted would not be beneficial to you.

Hard water is water that has high mineral content such as calcium and magnesium. Approximately 65% of the UK's population is affected by hard water which causes scale to build up in pipes, washing machines and hot water systems.

If untreated the build-up of hard water cannot only leave unsightly deposits around taps and showers but can pose serious problems to the efficiency and effectiveness of everyday household appliances with a heating element and your hot water system - ultimately costing you money.

What is Limescale?

Though the salts in hard water are not harmful to humans, they can wreak havoc on appliances throughout the home, separating from the water as it is heated to form limescale crystals. When this accumulates in boilers, washing machines, dishwashers, kettles, showers and other appliances which heat the hard water in your pipes: problems begin to appear.

How Can Limescale Cost You Extra?

You may have noticed a limescale build up in your kettle, for example: a thin (or perhaps not so thin) crusty layer around the heating element in the bottom of the kettle. This is a sign that you live in a hard water area.

This element is what heats your water to boiling point. Ask yourself: how effectively can it do this with a layer of scale in the way? The same problem occurs in all systems and appliances which need to heat the hard water travelling around the system.

British Water state that just '1.6mm of scale in heating systems causes a 12% loss in heat transfer from the energy source'. This increases the amount of energy required for the system to function normally.

To see whether you suffer from hard water in your area simply answer these basic questions - if you answer yes to any one of them it is more than likely that you live in a hard water area.

Alternatively why not download the new HARD WATER APP - it's free and it will instantly tell you whether you live in a hard water area by searching for your postcode.  Available now on Google Play for Android smart phones or Apple App Store for iPhone.

	Does your shower head or taps get clogged up regularly with limescale deposits? Over time, limescale caused by hard water can build up and damage the shower head and taps. Not only does it reduce the power and efficiency of the appliances but it is difficult to clean off.
	Do your hot taps run slower than normal due to the build up of limescale? The build-up of limescale in pipes restricts the flow of water and clogs your water system.
	Do you find that your appliances such as your boiler, kettle and washing machine breakdown easily? Limescale acts as an insulator on heating elements, causing them to get much hotter than they should until they overheat and breakdown Alternatively why not try our hard water area map to see if the area you live in is affected by hard water.

Hard water is measured by the amount of calcium and magnesium salts in your water. This is expressed in the UK as parts per million (ppm) as follows:

If total water hardness exceed 200 ppm steps should be taken to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit of combi boilers to reduce the rate of accumulation of limescale.

Not only will this prevent the common symptoms of hard water but it is also a legal requirement in accordance with Part L Building Compliance Guidelines which state:

• Where the mains total water hardness exceeds 200 parts per million, provision should be made to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit to reduce the build-up of limescale.
• This is the recommended minimum standards for efficiency, system circulation, system preparation, hot water storage and commissioning for gas-fired, oil-fired, electric and solid fuel wet central heating systems.