The short answer? No.

In fact, if your drinking water has a considerable amount of limescale, it’s considered “hard water” and hard water is actually healthy since it contains a high amount of minerals that we need in our daily diet. 

But while it isn’t “harmful” to drink, tap water with a high amount of limescale and other minerals can be annoying because it:

• May not taste great
• Cause obstruction and oxidation of pipes
• Leave traces on faucets, sinks, tubs and all over the house
• Leaves water spots on all types of surfaces including silverware and glassware
• Difficulties with the washing machine
• Increase in consumption of cleaning products
• Shorter lifetime for electrical appliances

We’ll explain exactly how hard water causes all those problems. But first, let’s take a closer look at what is limescale and how it can get into some drinking water in the first place.

What is limescale made of?

Limescale (or Calcium Scale) is a hard white chalky substance often found on the metallic parts of water-operated machinery. It is particularly common in machinery and equipment that involves heating elements (such as boilers). When hard water is heated or evaporated limescale forms.

Limescale is also found in metal pipes, pumps, filters and other water equipment to varying degrees, depending on water quality. The build-up of this scale, over time, can severely interfere with the efficiency and reliability of machinery, pipework, and processes leading to decreased efficiency and costly repairs.

Limescale deposits (often referred to simply as “scale”) are caused by small amounts of naturally occurring minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which are present in most tap water supplies. Water containing higher concentrations of these minerals is known as “hard water” and it is the main factor in determining how much scale is produced.

What happens if you drink water with limescale?

You’ve probably asked yourself more than once can drinking hard water cause health problems. The answer is no! It’s a fact: limescale, in small quantities, does not have any bad repercussions on your organism, and no, water hardness likely won't cause kidney stones as many believe. On the contrary; most mineral waters you find in stores have minerals like calcium and magnesium that are good for your body. In general, natural spring waters have the right balance of these minerals to help us stay healthy!

So while hard water and limescale isn’t dangerous, it could be wreaking havoc on the taste of your hot drinks, especially those made in the kettle. Ever wonder why your teas or coffee taste funny? Yup, that's the effect of hard water and limescale, your water might end up tasting bitter or salty due to the high amount of minerals that are dissolved in the water.

How do you remove limescale? 

All these inconveniences are very persistent and you won’t make them magically disappear with a snap of your fingers. That’s why, to resolve some of these problems, it’s the right time to choose a product that protects your surfaces and eliminates limescale all at once. Trust us, the water specialist. We recommend installing a water softener as a permanent fix.  A water softener treats your water before it makes contact with surfaces and home equipment. Families generally rely on either the water softening or the water conditioning method. Both systems are effective and prevent successfully limescale buildup in the pipeworks.

How do you soften hard water?

As we've mentioned, a water softener may be the best solution if you have hard water in your home. Typical water softener systems work by flushing hard water through resin beads containing positively charged sodium and potassium ions. The sodium and potassium are released into the water as the resin beads attract the calcium and magnesium ions, which are also positively charged. The result of this exchange is soft water containing small amounts of sodium and potassium.

Here are some of the Benefits of Softened Water:

• A healthy lather when washing clothes, dishes, and even your hands and body.
• Clothes that are cleaner, with no mineral stains and less wear-and-tear damage.
• Healthy water pressure in your home.
• Cleaner dishes and less time spent cleaning
• Healthier hair and Moisturized skin
• Appliances last longer and work how they're supposed to

Conclusion

A whole-home water softener promises to prevent both calcium and magnesium particles in your water from clinging to pipes, water appliances, clothes, and dishes.  This process protects your water appliances and pipes and saves you money on water heating bills!

To learn more about how this product can get rid of hard water problems, contact Aquatell today!