The
costs of hard water
Confusingly there
are two different kinds of water hardness, both caused by calcium salts.
The first, found in most water, is known as permanent hardness and is
caused by the calcium and magnesium salts of chloride and sulphate. They
give water its characteristic taste but do not cause scale deposits when
the water is heated.
The second type of hardness is called temporary
hardness and is caused by calcium bicarbonate. Calcium bicarbonate is
destroyed by boiling and is therefore often referred to as "temporary
hardness". Boiling causes it to precipitate resulting in the insoluble
carbonate deposits we know as limescale. This fixes to surfaces such as
heating elements and boiler walls. It also causes that murky, scummy
appearance in tea and coffee when allowed to cool.
Although
rainwater is naturally soft, as it percolates through chalk and
limestone it dissolves and collects
these minerals and becomes "hard". Rainwater which falls on hard rock
such as granite remains naturally soft. Generally speaking, hard
water is supplied to 60% of homes in the UK: especially in central,
eastern and southern areas of England.
In soft water areas, such
as the far north west of England, west Wales and Scotland, there is a
lower level of calcium carbonate in the water. However, soft water is
more acidic than hard so there may be higher levels of other impurities
in the water such as lead and copper from private water pipes. The
increasingly common practice of networking water (transfer of water from
one source to another) also means that local geology is not necessarily
an accurate guide to water quality. Water therefore becomes a variable
that is difficult to control.
So why bother
with eliminating the limescale build up? Here's why....
Hard water causes scaling
in water heaters. You may get scale forming at temperatures as low as 50
degrees centigrade, and the effect accelerates rapidly as the water is
heated. This scale acts as an unwanted insulator, reducing the transfer
of heat from the element to the water, increasing your fuel bills. RainSoft treated water can save you up to 29% of your total fuel bill.
We all hate drying up, so why bother?
Crockery, cutlery and glasses can be left to drain without the fear of
drying marks or streaks. Why do you think dishwashers use soft water?
Exactly! Plus you'll use less soap or detergent.
Water that is free of
hardness and rust minerals will avoid the plumbing scale that restricts
water flow and causes valve leakages.
Give your hair natural
shine and vibrancy. Hard water can give you dull, lifeless hair prone to
tangle. Because soft water is gentler and requires far less shampoo and
conditioner it is so much kinder to all hair types. It also makes your
expensive hair care products last twice as long! That's why all the best
hair salons use soft water.
According to leading
independent testing laboratories, treated water improves the cleaning
efficiency up to 250%, saves on soaps and detergents and makes the
laundry task much easier. Since you are using less, you need to rinse
less, which saves you water as well. Plus the appearance of fabrics are
improved too!
Soft water as part of
your beauty regime? Absolutely! Soft water dries out your skin
considerably less than hard water and works in harmony with your
favourite emollient skin creams to preserve a higher water content,
using less cream. Say goodbye to hard water curd redness, roughness or
blemishes.
There is growing evidence that soft water is of real
benefit to sufferers of eczema and dermatitis. Although the causes of
these conditions are many and not fully understood it is generally
acknowledged that softened water can help reduce irritation, as
magnesium and calcium ions (a possible irritant prevalent in soap scum)
have been removed by the softening process. The fact that washing with
softened water greatly reduces the amount of soap or detergent used is
also an important factor.
 |
COOKING
|
When vegetables are
cooked in hard water. They become shrivelled and discoloured. In
RainSoft treated water they will stay tender and retain their
garden-fresh flavour, aroma and appearance.
Bathing in treated water
is safer and gentler because the minerals that cause scum and curd
deposits have been removed. Your skin is allowed to breathe freely.
Amazingly you can save over a third of the time you
currently spend on cleaning and washing up. How? Since there is no scum
with soft water, you won't have to wash tide-marks of baths or drying
marks of draining boards, glass and other surfaces. Also important is
the fact that you will be using far less cleaning agent because of the
soft water. So not only do you save time, you save money as well!
Razor blades cut closer,
through the toughened beards, and stay sharp longer without hard water
scum to dull them. Your skin is left free of curd that can cause dryness
and irritation
|
|
COFFEE,
TEA, SOUPS, etc.
|
Using treated water with
no hardness, tastes or odours, all your drinks and foods will taste
better and full of flavour
RainSoft treated water is
clear, multi-filtered and pollutant free, with an even healthier taste
than some expensive, cumbersome bottled waters. It is at your fingertips
for all drinking, mixing and cooking needs
Soft water will make a
real difference to your lifestyle, and when you experience the benefits
first hand, you just won't want to go back to a hard life!
To find out
more about what can be done about hard water click on the RainSoft Water
Treatment Systems link below.
