About Hard Water

Hard Water Problems in the Home – Causes, Effects and Solutions

Hard Water Limescale Problems

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. These minerals are picked up as rainwater passes through chalk and limestone geology before entering the water supply. Water hardness is most commonly measured in mg/l (milligrams per litre) or ppm (parts per million).

Many parts of the UK — particularly England — experience hard or very hard water, with levels varying significantly depending on location.

Common Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water is most easily identified by limescale deposits, which commonly appear:

  • Inside kettles

  • On taps and sinks

  • On shower heads and screens

  • In toilets

  • On crockery and glassware (spotting and cloudy film)

While these visible signs are frustrating, the most damaging effects of hard water occur inside your plumbing and appliances, where they cannot be seen.hy6bq

Hard Water Limescale Damage

Hard Water and Washing Machines

Washing machines are particularly vulnerable in hard water areas.

Common Issues Include:

  • Limescale on heating elements

  • Soap scum and grease build-up

  • Poor wash performance

  • Grey sludge forming in waste pipes

  • Blockages and bad odours

Over time, this results in frequent call-outs or the need to replace the appliance entirely.

Hard Water Limescale in Water Pipes

Hidden Damage Caused by Hard Water Limescale

Your hot water cylinder works in the same way as a kettle — heating hard water leads to limescale build-up. In hard water areas, the average household can have up to 70kg of limescale enter the home each year. Although not all of it remains in the system, enough accumulates to cause serious problems.

Reduced Heating Efficiency

  • Limescale acts as an insulator on heating elements

  • After just two years, efficiency can drop by up to 25%

  • Boilers and immersion heaters must work harder

  • Energy consumption and bills increase

Hard water costs you money through wasted energy, increased maintenance, and shortened appliance lifespan.

Hard Water Damage To Appliances

Hard Water Problems in Boilers and Heating Systems

Limescale is essentially stone. These gritty deposits damage:

  • Boilers

  • Heating elements

  • Hot water cylinders

  • Pipework

  • Valves and seals

This leads to more breakdowns, expensive repairs, and premature replacement of heating components.

Hard Water Stains in The Shower

Effects of Hard Water on Skin and Hair

Hard water reacts with soap to form soap scum, which remains on the skin after washing.

This Can Cause:

  • Dry, itchy skin

  • Dull, lifeless hair

  • Soap residue trapping bacteria

  • Increased irritation for eczema and psoriasis sufferers

Softened water allows soap to rinse away cleanly, improving skin and hair condition.

Hard Water Damage to Clothes and Laundry

Hard water causes soap scum to bond to fabric fibres, trapping dirt instead of removing it.

Laundry Problems Include:

  • Dull-looking clothes

  • Grey or yellowing whites

  • Stiff towels

  • Reduced softness

Hard water washing can reduce fabric lifespan by 20–50% and significantly increases detergent usage.

Hard Water Damages Laundry

Types of Water Hardness

Temporary Hardness

  • Caused mainly by calcium carbonate

  • Forms visible white limescale when water is heated

  • Common in kettles and heating systems

Permanent Hardness

  • Caused by calcium and magnesium sulphates

  • Remains dissolved even when boiled

  • Affects soap performance and rinsing

Water Hardness Classifications

  • Soft water: 0–60 mg/l

  • Moderately hard water: 60–120 mg/l

  • Hard water: 120–200 mg/l

  • Very hard water: Over 200 mg/l

Hard Water in Your Local Area

Hard water is particularly common across:

  • Somerset & the South West (e.g. BA, SN, GL postcodes)

  • Wiltshire & Gloucestershire

  • Kent & the South East (ME, CT, TN postcodes)

  • Hampshire & West Sussex (PO postcodes)

  • Buckinghamshire & Hertfordshire (HP, MK postcodes)

  • Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk (SS, CO, IP, NR postcodes)

  • Lincolnshire & surrounding areas

If you live in one of these regions, your home is highly likely to suffer from hard water limescale problems.

Can Hard Water Limescale Be Removed?

Yes – With a Water Softener

Installing a water softener removes calcium and magnesium from the water supply, preventing limescale from forming anywhere in your home.

Benefits of Softened Water

  • Eliminates limescale permanently

  • Improves boiler and appliance efficiency

  • Reduces energy bills

  • Extends the life of plumbing and appliances

  • Improves skin, hair and laundry quality

  • Cuts cleaning time and detergent usage

Hard water damages your home every day. A professionally installed water softener protects your property, saves money, and improves water quality throughout your home.

Water Softeners in London, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire