Hard water affects a large proportion of the UK, and many people have to live and deal with it daily. Many of us are unaware of the facts about hard and soft water, and we wanted to present the need-to-know facts about the realities of living with hard water.
A third of homeowners in the UK have experienced limescale damage to home appliances that come with hard water. It can affect our showers, washing machines, taps, and pipes, but the worst affected is the humble kettle, with many more people having discovered the effect of limescale build upon this essential kitchen appliance.
Living in a hard water area means that more detergent is required to get clothes soft and clean for washing machines, and limescale build-up can seriously damage the appliance. Any appliance that uses water will become damaged and less efficient over time due to the limescale deposits that build up.
Even a 1.6mm coating of limescale on a heating element in the heating system can make it up to 12 per cent less effective.
It’s widely believed that hard water can have a detrimental effect on our skin and hair, with some people reporting that it damages hair colour and causes dyes to fade more quickly. Others have said it can age our skin, making us look older.
Hard water will cause a build-up of soap scum on your skin, which will block your pores and makes moisturiser much less effective. The minerals in hard water strip the moisture from your skin and prevent the natural oils in our bodies from doing the job they’re supposed to, causing the appearance of premature ageing.
Elements in hard water such as iron and calcium can form free radicals that damage healthy skin cells and cause a breakdown of collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.
Tackle the problems of hard water by using a water softener service in Reading today!
