Do You Have Hard Water? How to Tell and How It Affects Your Water Heater

Hard water can have a significant impact on your home, particularly on your water heater. Knowing whether you have hard water can help you prevent damage and keep your water heater working efficiently, while also extending its lifespan. Not sure if you have hard water or what it might do to your unvented cylinder? Our guide will help.

Identifying Hard Water

Look for Limescale Deposits

One of the most visible signs of hard water is limescale. This is a chalky white residue left behind by calcium and magnesium minerals dissolved in the water. You can often find it on faucets, showerheads, and around sinks.

Soap and Detergent Issues

Hard water makes it difficult for soap and detergent to lather properly. If you find that you need to use more soap or detergent to get a good lather or if your clothes and dishes don’t feel clean after washing, hard water might be the culprit.

Stiff Laundry

Clothes washed in hard water can feel stiff and scratchy. This happens when minerals bind with the fabric fibres, making them less flexible. I

Dry Skin and Hair

Hard water can leave your skin and hair feeling dry and itchy. The minerals strip away natural oils, leaving your hair and skin feeling dry and uncomfortable.

Effects of Hard Water on Your Water Heater

Hard water can make life uncomfortable. However, it can also damage your water heater, eroding its ability to heat water and forcing you to replace it sooner than necessary.

Reduced Efficiency

The minerals in hard water accumulate inside the tank, forming a layer of limescale on the heating elements and the bottom of the tank. This acts as an insulating barrier, making it harder for the heating element to transfer heat to the water.

Increased Wear and Tear

The buildup also increases wear and tear on your water heater. The heating elements have to work harder, leading to overheating and potential failure.

Noise and Sediment

As limescale accumulates and breaks off, it can cause your water heater to make popping or rumbling noises. This sediment can also reduce the available space in the tank, decreasing the amount of hot water your heater can produce.

How to Fix Hard Water

Regular Maintenance

To prevent these problems, you’ll need to have your water heater professionally inspected and maintained. That should include a drain and fill to remove sediment build-up.

Descaling Solutions

Use descaling solutions specifically designed for water heaters to remove limescale buildup. Note that if you have an unvented cylinder, only a G3-qualified engineer should handle any maintenance or scale removal processes. Talk to the experts at EasyFlow to understand your options.

Your Action Plan

Hard water is no fun at all. It can make clothes stiff, irritate your skin, and cause unsightly build-up around your faucets, showerheads, sinks, and tubs. It will also affect your water heater’s performance and lifespan. Thankfully, there are solutions, including letting EasyFlow handle your water heater inspections and maintenance.