HARD WATER the facts
Hard water naturally
Rainwater is naturally soft and becomes hard only as it passes through layers of limestone and chalk filtering down to the natural water table. During this journey the water absorbs natural minerals which give it its distinctive taste. Some, such as calcium and magnesium, also create the waters hard characteristics, and the more of these minerals that are absorbed, the harder the water becomes. Although all water is effectively treated before it reaches your home, many of the minerals responsible for hardness remain, and more than 60% of Britain suffers from the effects of hard water.
Hard water the effects
When heated, hard water can cause deposits of scale to be left behind. This causes pipes to narrow, boilers and tanks to lose capacity and heating elements to become coated with scale at a rate of 1.5mm every year. Government statistics show just 6mm of scale can be enough to reduce the efficiency of your heating system by up to 38%. As well as increasing running costs around the home, scale also reduces the life expectancy of all domestic appliances that heat water during their operation, including your heating system, iron and washing machine.
Hard water makes cleaning around the home more difficult. It deposits scale and combines with soap to produce hard to remove scum that clings to baths, basins, tiles & taps. And because hard water requires the use of more soap, detergents, and shampoo than soft water, it can also affect the way you look and feel. Your clothes can be more difficult to rinse, whilst small deposits of scum can make fabrics feel coarse and harsh to the touch. Your hair may appear dull, and your skin feel dry.
Hard water the likely cost
An average family-sized boiler could cost more than £1,000 to replace. Water takes longer to heat up, using more fuel. Your hot water storage tank may contain only two thirds of the hot water it once did with its remaining capacity taken up with scale deposits. Your washing machine may need around five times as much soap and up to 30% more detergent to be effective when compared with soft water areas. The cost of limescale removers, fabric softeners and detergents can add up to £200 per year to your costs.
SOFT WATER the benefits of a Water Softener
You will be amazed at the difference that softened water can make to your lifestyle and your household budget.
Luxuriously silky water will bring a new dimension to washing, bathing & showering. Not only will you enjoy the soft caress of richer lather and softer suds you will also find that used shampoo washes away more easily, leaving your hair clean, shiny and smooth. Your clothes will take on a new found softness too, as the soap suds rinse away quickly, leaving fibres clean and fresh.
You will be helping the environment too. Both the Culligan & Monarch water softeners that we sell use less water & salt than many of their competitors, and because you will need less detergents and shampoos as well, running costs will be lower and fewer chemicals will be washed down the drain.
Tough on scale and scum, the water softener will help keep your bathroom suite, shower and kitchen sparkling clean. Unsightly stains and marks will disappear, while cleaning will become less of a chore with no need for the harsh chemicals and expensive limescale removers previously required.
Our water softeners are tough on existing built-up scale too. Over time, softened water will help dissolve and wash away limescale which has accumulated over the years, helping to restore the efficiency of your hot water system and the flow of water through your pipes, taps and showers.
Your water softener delivers not only the promise of softened water, but brings you peace of mind as well. You can feel secure in the knowledge that your water softener has been developed and manufactured by experts. Monarch have been leading water softener manufacturers since 1964, and Culligan have more than 70 years experience. Both companies are recognised as world leaders in water treatment and water softner manufacture. Each model we sell has been tried, tested and developed to provide the very best in quality and performance.
SOFT WATER BENEFITS
- Saves time. With no scum marks or evaporation stains to clean away, housework is reduced.
- Can save up to 50% of washing powder, soaps, shampoos and conditioners etc.
- Will protect your heating system and increase the life of your system by removing existing scale.
- Saves money on hot water bills with no scale to heat first. Just 1/16"of scale will cause a loss of efficiency
of 12%. - Rinses away without staining.
- Can help dry skin conditions including eczema
- Makes laundry brighter and fresher.
- Has a clean silky feeling, and makes bathing a luxury
without the need for expensive bath oils etc.
HOW MUCH DOES A WATER SOFTENER COST?
The cost will be less than other home improvements and will considered an investment.
A family of 4 in an average hard water area can save over £200 a year! Compare these savings against the outlay of the softener, and you will see that it is arguably the most cost effective home improvement you can make.
HOW CAN I JUSTIFY MY INVESTMENT?
Most people who have a water softener would simply say that to wash and bathe in scum free water is enough. However, a water softener fulfils many functions and gives substantial savings.
The long term benefits are the increased life of appliances, protection of taps, bathroom suites, your boiler etc, not to forget the daily savings on household bills by reducing soap consumption to name just one by up to 50%
WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE?
A water softener is working automatically 24 hours a day. All the homeowner has to do is ensure that the unit is kept full of salt
THE GENTLE TOUCH OF SOFT WATER
There is no clearer benefit of soft water than that shown by a dishwasher with soft water. Shiny dishes and plates, clean clear glasses and cutlery you are proud of, all come from soft water.
If soft water is doing this to your dishwasher, just imagine what it is doing in the rest of your system, and do not forget, that with your dishwasher using soft water, you do not need to put anymore salt in it.
This also applies if you prefer to wash by hand. Gone are the dry, cracked hands you get with hard water.
Soft water gives you cleaner, brighter, fresher fabrics, simply because your washing powder can concentrate on washing your clothes, not fighting the effects of hard water every time.
Remember that with soft water flowing through your washing machine and de-scaling it, it will work better and last longer!
With soft water, you can cut your soap powder by nearly half, which proves that SOFT WATER SAVES YOU MONEY
Choose from the following Market leading softeners:
Monarch Watersilk 15 Water Softener
Monarch PlumbSoft Solo Ultra Non Electric Compact Water Softener
NEED MORE ADVICE? TEL: 08456 800 120 (local rate)
