Say Goodbye To Limescale & Calcium Buildup With Water Softeners, Anti-Scale Systems

The New Year is here. Resolutions have been made, gym memberships have been purchased, and black-eyed peas have been eaten. And what is a common wish for many people for the new year? Spending more time with family. People travel thousands of miles to be with loved ones, and if you are planning on hosting a family gathering we’re sure you want everything to be perfect. But have you ever sat down for a meal and realized there were spots all over your dishes and glasses? Or maybe when you went to wash your dishes after that big meal you noticed a strange buildup inside your sink. These are common problems that many homeowners face, and both are caused by hard water.

“Calcium and limescale buildup can show up on a lot of things inside the home like chrome fixtures, shower doors, sinks, shower drains, dishes, glasses, and silverware,” said John Moore Services Manager and Master Plumber Joe Bany. “The deposits generally occur when water is heating.”

We have hard water in Houston. Rainwater is naturally “soft” because it contains few impurities, but the water we have is full of calcium and magnesium, which is what makes it “hard.” When we want hot water, that water must first travel through the water heater in order to heat up to the correct temperature. As the hard water heats, a chemical reaction occurs and the calcium and magnesium inside the water fuse together and form crystals. These crystals, or calcium and lime scale deposits, sit inside the water heater, which is why having your water heater flushed on a regular basis is important. The deposits also travel through your plumbing system and come out your faucets and that’s why you might notice a chalk-like substance on all faucets that produce hot water.

Houston’s Hard water in your home can:

• Make your showers difficult because it keeps soap from lathering correctly
• Make laundry detergents less effective
• Cause your clothes to look dirty even after being washed
• Cause skin to become dry and irritated
• Cause your piping system to become clogged with calcium and lime scale deposits
• Make all your heating devices (water heater, dishwasher, sinks, washing machine) less energy-efficient, which will in turn cost you money

If you have noticed any of the problems listed above, continue reading because there are two solutions for you.

Whole house water softeners

By installing a water softener every single drop of water that comes into your home will be soft, meaning all the calcium and magnesium will be removed before the water enters your house. It is installed at the entry point of your home’s water system, which is usually located in the garage or attic.

“Water softeners are a great addition to the home but they do require maintenance, you can’t just install one and forget about it,” said Bany. “Each softener has a tank that sits to its side and you have to put potassium and rock salt inside it. Periodically you have to check to make sure the salt level is high enough to create the chemical process that softens the water. And in many cases, other items must be installed, like a special drain, so that the softener will work correctly.”

Flow-tech Home Anti-Scale System

There is a lot that goes into installing a water softener, so if you are looking to take an easier route, Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System, an anti-scale device, is the right fit for you. The Flow-Tech system does not remove the calcium and magnesium from your water, but it sends an electronic signal through your piping system that confuses the calcium and magnesium and causes them not to fuse together. And when they are unable to bond, lime scale and calcium deposits do not form.

“Not as much is required in the installation process for Flow-Tech, and the other cool thing about it is that as the electronic signal goes through pipes not only does it deter calcium from continuing to build, but over time it will go through your system and break down the calcium that has already formed,” said Bany. “If you have a calcium riddled faucet or drain, Flow-Tech will get them back to a better shape than before you started using it.”

You can scrub and scrub at lime scale and calcium buildup in your home, and although it might go away for a day or two, it’s only a matter of time before it returns. The only way to make it go away permanently is by installing a water softener or Flow-Tech Home Anti-Scale System. If you are unsure about which device would best fit your home, call the expert plumbers at John Moore Services. They are knowledgeable in the field and can answer all questions you might have. Give us a call today so your home is spotless for the new year!