Hard water is a term that depending on where in the UK you
live, you might be quite familiar with, but the impact that hard water and the
treatment of hard water has on water systems is perhaps not as well-known.
What is hard water?
In the simplest of terms, hard water is water that contains a
higher concentration of minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. Water
hardness within the UK varies based on location, with more south-eastern and
central locations having higher amounts of minerals within their water.
There are many online tools and guides that will let you
know the general hardness of the water that you’re dealing with and it’s always
worth considering water quality when it comes to deciding on the kind of
fittings to use.
Effect on fittings
Harder water tends to leave behind a build-up of residue know
as scale and while most people will notice it on fixtures first, a white
coating on outlets like taps and showers, but if this build up is present on
the exterior, it’s also going to be accumulating on the interior of the
pipework.
This scale can impede water flow, affecting water pressure
and potentially accelerate issues like corrosion in metal fittings and
pipework.
Protecting plumbing from hard water
There are a couple of common solutions for dealing with hard
water and scale, the most common being to soften the water. While this will
alleviate most hard water concerns, introducing corrosive materials, such as
the commonly used chlorine, into metal pipework can also be detrimental. While
a build-up of scale is bad and has potential to cause costly repairs, a minimal
layer will provide some protection to metal fittings and help prevent pinhole
leaks.
Picking the right fitting
Ultimately, the negative effects of hard water can shorten
the lifespan of some fittings and systems, but for most, the impact is
negligible, but there are alternatives like DZR
brass fittings that are more resistant to corrosive materials.