What is scale?
Scale, also referred to as limescale, is the buildup of a white, chalk-like substance that forms where water collects or where water is dispensed. Scale is most often a problem when water is heated or in water-using appliances that heat water. Check your shower head, shower curtain or shower doors, look at your faucets, tubs and sinks, peek inside appliances that use hot water. Although you can’t look inside your water pipes, scale is likely forming there too. No matter if you have city water or well water, your home may be affected by scale.
What causes scale?
As water travels through the earth, it picks up minerals. Most water supplies contain calcium and magnesium which are the main contributors of hardness in water. Scale that appears when water evaporates is the visible sign of the calcium and magnesium in the water. Over time, the scale can build up and become unsightly and cause problems in areas using water around your home – especially hot water. In some cases, scale causes significant damage to water-using appliances, fixtures and pipes, resulting in costly repairs and even replacement.
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Water problems caused by scale
Scale buildup in water pipes
If you have hard water, your home’s water pipes could have significant limescale buildup. As the scale builds up in pipes, it significantly reduces the water’s flow rate. If scale buildup gets bad enough, you may have to replace water pipes which is both inconvenient and costly.
Appliance deterioration
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Many water-using appliances can be damaged by scale as it builds up over time. Scale buildup reduces appliance efficiency, lifespan and performance costing you more in operational expenses, repairs or early replacement. Listed below are common household appliances that are susceptible to damage from scale.
- Water Heater: Whether you have a gas water heater or an electric water heater, limescale can build up on the heating element over time which will increase the time and energy it takes to heat the water. Essentially, the unit must heat the scale before it can heat the water, which is inefficient and wasteful. Scale can also form along the entire interior of the tank. Ultimately, scale reduces the efficiency, effectiveness and lifespan of water heaters.
- Dishwasher: Your dishwasher is another victim of scale buildup from hard water. You may have noticed a white, chalky substance on the inside of your dishwasher after it is done running. Most likely, it is scale building up from hard water as it’s heated. Similar problems can be seen on dishes and silverware. Those spots and streaks are telltale signs of hard water reacting with high temperatures and detergents.
- Washing Machine: Scale buildup affects washing machines and laundering results. Scale will accumulate on washing machine components that come in contact with water, reducing the machine’s performance and efficiency. Additionally, the minerals in hard water interfere with a detergent’s ability to clean, so clothes washed in hard water often come out dull. Hardness minerals and detergent residue often remain in fabrics, causing them to wear down sooner than clothes washed in soft water.
- Tea Kettles & Coffee Makers: Many smaller water-using appliances like tea kettles and coffee makers are negatively impacted by limescale. As scale builds up, it forces the appliance to work harder. Using filtered water will greatly impact the performance and lifespan of these appliances, and it will improve the appearance and flavor of your beverages too.
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Shower, Sinks & Surfaces
You can often see white spots or a white film on shower doors, sinks, tubs and other heavy water usage areas – especially water that’s heated. Similar to the spots on glassware, these spots are caused by hardness minerals that are left behind when water evaporates. Often a soap scum or film will form around the tub or in the sink or shower when water drains. When hard water combines with soap, it forms a soap curd that clings to surfaces as well as your skin and hair that doesn’t easily rinse away.
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