Have you ever opened your dishwasher only to be met with cloudy dishes and glassware? Maybe after washing your hands, you may have felt like there was a film of residue left, which couldn’t be removed no matter how much soap you used.
If you have lived through either of these situations, the chances are you have a common household problem found in many water sources, known commonly as water hardness.
According to Puretec water specialist, Burke Stacy, you can identify the first signs of hardness, known as scale, around the hot water areas of you home.
“Scale can typically be found on showerheads, tap outlets, kettles and in and around your hot water service where you may not notice it,” he said.
What is water hardness and how can you identify it?
Composed mainly of calcium and magnesium, water hardness is a white deposit, where, if placed in vinegar, will fizz. This is an easy way of identifying its presence.
How does water hardness affect your household appliances?
Separate to leaving a mess around your home, water hardness will reduce the life of your water heating devices and result in reduced energy efficiency.
How can you avoid scale and water hardness?
According to Burke, there are two main forms of treatment when it comes to tackling water hardness; scale control and water softeners.
“Scale control mainly looks at preventing scale from depositing in your hot water service. These are good for things like coffee machines and jugs,” he said.
“The proven method for actually removing the scale, however, is by a device called a water softener which removes the hardness via a salt solution and uses resins to protect the system.”
“This is a cost-effective method to take that hardness out and prevent scale in your home.”
To find out more, visit https://puretec.com.au/know-your-water
