What causes hard water?

Water will try to dissolve anything it comes into contact with, so hard water is water that has dissolved chalk, lime, and other minerals. Rainwater is naturally soft, but as it drains through chalk and limestone it dissolves and holds these minerals. Some areas of the UK have naturally soft water. This is due to granite, and other hard rocks which will not dissolve. These areas are predominantly the North of England, Scotland, the Lake District, Wales and the South-West. So the hardness of your water is dependent on where you live. Sub-soil levels can also contain nitrates, pesticides and insecticides. These contaminants, both natural and man-made, can be easily removed.

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How do you soften hard water?

An efficient water softening system using an ion exchange process is the only way to completely remove chalk and lime deposits (calcium and magnesium carbonates). The water is passed through a cylinder containing ion-exchange resin beads. These beads collect and exchange the limescale in the water. The resin is periodically flushed or regenerated to a drain using a solution of brine. Most modern water softeners will automatically monitor the volume of water used and will flush when required. The only operation needed is to occasionally check and replenish salt, in most cases about once a month.

Scaled up Pipes

Benefits of soft water:

Softened water is for all the "working" water in your home. It will protect all water-using appliances from scaling up. It will also gradually de-scale existing deposits that may have been building up over a period of time. Heating efficiency and the flow of water will improve. Bathroom sanitary ware and showers will stay much cleaner by eliminating scummy curds that deposit as a result of soap combining with hard water. Shower heads will stay free of lime scale deposits and give maximum flow.

Dry skin conditions such as eczema, can be improved using softened water. Soft Options receives many enquiries each year as a result of consultations with GPs and Dermatologists. We have been linked with the National Eczema Society for the last twenty years, and have many success stories.

Using softened water means big savings on soaps, shampoo and cleaning materials as you need far less to do the job. It is therefore much kinder to the environment by reducing or eliminating the amounts being flushed down the drain. Softened water also leaves glasses and dishes sparkling as it reduces spots and streaking.