If you live in a hard-water area, chances are, you have already experienced the damaging effects of mineral-packed water. But did you know that limescale could break your washing machine? The calcium and magnesium deposits in hard water stick to washer drums, pipes, and seals, just as they do your showerhead and taps, and this can shorten the lifespan of appliances by as much as three years.
In this article, we’ll explain how limescale breaks your washing machine, what you can do to fix it, and how you can avoid hard water problems altogether by installing a water softener system.
Hard Water & Limescale
With an estimated 60 per cent of the British population living in hard-water areas, most of us are familiar with limescale. But many of us do not realise just how damaging it is in the home. In addition to leaving unsightly marks on our glassware, silverware, showerheads, and bathroom sinks, it clogs up our pipes, plumbing systems, and white goods, costing the average household hundreds of pounds in energy consumption, appliance repairs, and cleaning products each year.
But what is hard water and limescale, and can you avoid them? It’s all down to geology and where you live in the UK. As many as 16 million homeowners live in hard-water areas in the United Kingdom. Those living in southern and eastern parts of England are most adversely affected.
Hard water is groundwater with high concentrations of dissolved minerals, calcium and magnesium. It’s perfectly safe to drink and use for washing, cleaning, cooking, but the hard white deposit it leaves behind – limescale, can have a detrimental impact on all areas of the home:
X Limescale leaves white spots on glasses, crockery and silverware
X Limescale stops cleaning products from working efficiently
X Limescale dries the hair and skin
X Limescale clogs up pipes and plumbing systems
X Limescale damages heating elements in household appliances
X Limescale creates hard-to-remove stains on bathtubs, toilet bowls, sinks, and showerheads
X Limescale can shorten the lifespan of your washing machine by years
What Limescale Really Does To Your Washing Machine
You can see when limescale starts to build-up on your taps and kettle element and do something about it, but it is impossible to see what’s going on inside your washing machine, and this is where it creates the most problems.
Limescale deposits quickly build-up on washing machine heating elements, making them less energy efficient, and over time, they begin to clog the pipes, pumps and hoses, leading to corrosion. Eventually, you’ll see chalky white limescale inside your drum, which will reduce the efficacy of your washing detergents and begin to damage the fibres in your clothes and linens.
Limescale is a real pain when it comes to washing machines, but fortunately, there are things you can do to avoid it without uprooting your family and moving home.
How To Prevent Limescale Build-Up In Washing Machines
There are multiple washing machine cleaning products available that claim to “make your washing machine live longer”, but essentially, they only mask the problem. If you want to remove limescale from your washing machine altogether, you need to treat the cause at the source, and the easiest way to do that is by installing a water softener system.
Designed to remove limescale causing minerals from your water source: water softeners filter magnesium and calcium safely, using a process called ion exchange, and replaces them with sodium (salt).
Attached to your mains water supply, usually, underneath the kitchen sink, water softeners are suitable for use in any home or business premises. Once installed, you’ll notice a change in how your water feels immediately, and while it may taste slightly saltier than the hard water you are used to, softened water is perfectly safe to drink.
With a water softener system, you’ll never have to worry about your washing machine, dishwasher, or kettle breaking down due to limescale build-up on your heating elements, and your bathroom and kitchen will be easier to clean.
In the long term, you will save money on washing machine cleaning products, your laundry detergents will lather better, and your clothes and linens will be cleaner and softer than ever before.
Make Your Washing Machine Live Longer With A Water Softener System
Installing a water softener system could extend the lifespan of your washing machine by helping it work more effectively and efficiently, and best of all, it can help save money on energy bills, washing detergents, and costly repairs.
Once installed, your water softener will rid your home of limescale for good, to leave it cleaner, brighter, and running as efficiently as possible, so why not find out more today.
