Limescale is a byproduct of hard water containing minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water can slowly build up on your fixtures, eating away at the chrome-plated surfaces that are supposed to make your bathroom sparkle. If it builds up too much on a specific area, like the shower head or fixture, you may sense an icky buildup in the form of soap scum and a harsh smell. If you want to keep things nice and clean, you need to prevent this buildup from occurring in the first place. You can prevent limescale in your home by following a few simple tips.
1. Get a Water Softener
It’s the easiest and most effective way of preventing limescale in your bathroom. Instead of letting your water run its natural course, a water softening system will remove all the minerals from the water. This method works for all homes, even those with well water or city water.
These machines will remove unwanted minerals as your water travels through them. You can periodically hire a plumber to install a water softener, or, if you have a well, you can have the process professionally installed.
2. Get a Water Purifier
If you’re not comfortable having a water softener in your bathroom, you can buy a few specially designed products for your shower and the faucet. These cleaners will filter out the minerals in the water, leaving it clean and clear.
They come with pre-filters to prevent unwanted particles from entering the filter, and they also include an adaptor that connects to common shower heads. Once installed, these devices will work just like automatic siphon systems without any upkeep issues. Pre-filters work in much the same way as water softeners. They naturally remove unwanted minerals from your tap water and save you a lot in utility bills.
3. Use a Showerhead Filtering Device
If you have a shower head with a filter, ensure it’s replaced or cleaned regularly. The filter only needs to be changed once or twice a year to keep your water clean and clear.
To prevent lime buildup in your home, try installing a showerhead filtering device. These innovative devices are specifically designed to protect the hard water areas of your home; they attach to your existing shower head and, in effect, work as water softeners. Even if you have a water softener installed in another area of the house, these devices can help keep those areas lime-free.
4. Install a Magnetic Water Conditioner and De-scaler System
These devices are designed to attach to the plumbing pipes behind your bathroom fixtures. They run a magnetic current through your water, effectively pulling the minerals from the water and preventing buildup from occurring.
These innovative devices work to prevent lime buildup in your water. They install in your home’s heating or hot water lines, and they actively remove minerals from the water before it even reaches the tank. Unlike traditional water softeners that require regular maintenance to keep running and working properly, these devices will last for years with minimal care.
5. Use a Lime Remover
If you’re not going to invest in a water softener, do yourself a favor, and buy a lime remover. These products are made specifically to help you remove calcium buildup from your fixtures and prevent their return.
6. Install a Water Filter
It’s a good idea to install a water filter at the source of your water supply. This will keep all the contaminants out of your tap water before they can get into your fixtures or plumbing.
If you’re tired of dealing with limescale buildup in your home, you can prevent lime buildup by installing an inline carbon cartridge filter. Carbon filters are inexpensive and easy to find; they’ll remove all kinds of harmful contaminants from the water so that these particles don’t have time to settle anywhere.
7. Minimize Your Demand for Hot Water
Most people rely on hot water for almost everything, including baths, laundry, showers, and even washing dishes. Unfortunately, you’ll have to take steps to prevent limescale buildup in your home if you want to avoid harmful chemicals and bad smells. One of the best ways to do this is by only using cold water for laundry and bathing. Since you’re not constantly heating water, fewer minerals will build up inside your pipes. You’ll still need hot water for cooking and cleaning, but cutting back on usage can help keep things nice and clean while reducing energy costs.
8. Use Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the best products for preventing limescale buildup in your home. Using vinegar to clean your shower and sinks can help remove buildup. To keep things nice and clean, fill a plastic spray bottle with white vinegar, and then spray all affected areas before scrubbing them with a toothbrush or soap.
9. Avoid Using your Toilet as a Trash Can
To prevent limescale buildup in your home, you’ll need to stop throwing trash into the toilet. If you’re used to dumping everything from tissues to old food into the toilet, you can easily fix this problem by investing in a trash can for the bathroom. It will ensure that scum buildup remains at a minimum, keeping stinky smells away.
10. Take Care of Rotten Items Quickly
If you’re used to leaving things to decay, then you may find that your home is full of limescale. This buildup can be significantly harder to remove than to prevent, but if you make an effort to maintain your fixtures regularly, you can avoid these problems before they begin.
The Disadvantages of Limescale Buildup
1. High Utility Bills
One of the biggest disadvantages of limescale buildup is the high cost of maintaining your home. If you’re dealing with a limescale problem, you’ll want to invest in a water softener. You’ll also need to hire a professional to install your water softener because there’s a risk that it will backfire and damage other fixtures in the house.
2. Bad Smells
Another significant disadvantage of limescale buildup is the overwhelming smell it can cause. If you don’t go the extra mile to remove this buildup quickly, you’ll find that odors will begin to increase. This isn’t just a cosmetic problem; these smells can be very difficult to remove, and they can cause medical problems if they’re not dealt with right away.
3. Aesthetic Problems
There’s much more to limescale buildup than stains and smells. Over time, lime will gradually eat away at your fixtures and grout lines. This can cause significant damage to your home. You can stop this problem before it begins by using a water softener, but, even then, you may find that lime buildup is harder to remove than it is to prevent.
4. Difficulty Cleaning
If limescale buildup is in your home, cleaning it will be problematic. Sinks, showers, and other fixtures affected by limescale build up will require special care and attention.
5. A Serious Health Risk
Children are the most vulnerable to the health effects of harmful chemical compounds. If you have young children in your home, you’ll want to take steps to prevent limescale buildup. Similarly, you’ll want to take extra precautions if you have older adults in your home.
Limescale buildup is a problem you want to prevent as early as possible. Contact Rite Way Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today for more information. We also provide duct cleaning and repair, indoor air quality checks and improvements, mini-splits care, and energy audit services.
