Best Taps & Filters To Reduce Hard Water Problems In Your Home.

Hard water affects many areas of the UK, especially those who live in the South East of England. The mineral rich springs in Bath are renowned for their healing properties but with hard water comes other issues, which, if ignored, can cause bigger problems in the long run.

Generally, our water supply is sourced from underground and travels quite a way before reaching our homes. During this journey water passes through soil and rock that is unique to the area in which we live. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and manganese dissolve into the water as it filters through these rocks.

All rocks have different compositions, for example, granite, sandstone and slate only contain trace amounts of calcium and magnesium, resulting in soft water. Sedimentary rocks such as chalk and limestone are made up of calcium carbonate meaning water that passes through these rocks contains a greater amount of calcium and magnesium resulting in a hard water supply. Iron and manganese are both known to cause discolouring of the water too, infusing the water with an unpleasant metallic taste. Although far from ideal, levels of such carbonates in our drinking water are not considered to be associated as a risk to human health, however, hard water can cause issues to home appliances and pipes. If you live in a hard water area you may experience the following issues;

• Soap scum in sinks and bathtubs.
• Mineral deposits can create ‘scale’ which, over time, can clog up pipes. This build up can impair the flow of water causing a reduction in heating efficiency.
• Lime scale leaves white deposits around shower heads and taps. If left, it can be difficult to remove.
• Reduced cleaning abilities of soaps and detergents. Hard water prevents soap lathering and foaming up.
• Hard water can cause skin to feel dry, especially amongst those prone to eczema.

If you are concerned about the water hardness in your area there are postcode checkers available online and the following map also indicates soft, medium and hard water areas within the UK *

A build-up of lime scale can cause your appliances to function less efficiently but there are ways you can deal with the effects of hard water. Running a descalene tablet through your appliances every few months will help to keep them running smoothly as lime scale deposits will be kept at a manageable level. Descalene tablets are ideal for maintenance on dishwashers, washing machines, coffee machines and shower heads.

In the UK all tap water, even the water categorized as hard water, is cleaned and safe to drink by the time it reaches our kitchen tap however we must remember it has travelled a long, long way to get to our house picking up tiny bits of dirt along the way. 

If you choose a filtered water tap you can enjoy clean tasting water even in those hard water regions. With a filtered tap, any metallic taint and little nasties that may have been collected along the way are removed before it reaches your glass while essential minerals will remain in the water.

We sell a vast selection of filtered water taps at Appliance House with some models offering filtered water and boiling water from one spout. With the inclusion of a filter cartridge those who live in hard water areas can still enjoy great tasting water from their kitchen tap.

Grohe Five Step Filtration System

Both the Grohe Blue water system and Grohe Red Hot Water Tap system use a five-step high performance filtration process to remove even the smallest impurities from the water, while leaving behind all the important minerals that benefit your health.  The filtration process effectively filters out chlorine, unwanted compounds and heavy metals such as copper and lead leaving you with clean tasting filtered water, free from any metallic taint.

With a Grohe Blue system you have flexibility as you can choose between three filter type options to provide perfect drinking water for those who live in a hard or soft water area. You even have the option of choosing the Magnesium + filter model which uses the five step filtration process but also adds magnesium to the water.

The Grohe Red also includes a new slimline titanium boiler which is highly resistant to corrosion and lime scale build-up to ensure perfect performance over the lifetime of the tap. Water stored in a Grohe Red titanium boiler is guaranteed to be free of any metallic taste too. Our review of the NEW Grohe Red Duo 2.0 Boiling Water Tap is a really useful read and covers all the new features of the tap which have contributed to the Grohe Red Duo 2 receiving a 2018 Kitchen Innovation Product Award.

Carron Pheonix – Dante Tri-Pure.

The Carron Pheonix Dante Tri Pure Filter Tap offers an excellent filtration performance removing unwanted chlorine and particles. The limescale reduction filter system reduces limescale, odour and sediment to improve taste and provide you with perfectly filtered water.

Abode Aquifier High Resin Filter Cartridge.

The Aquifier High Resin Filter Cartridge is designed for Abode Aquifier Taps to improve the taste, appearance, odour and effects of hard water. This special cartridge is packed with granules of activated carbon which trap particles, removes dissolved substances and reduces the level of impurities in the water as it passes through the filter. This resin control system is best suited to those who receive hard incoming water. Up to 1800 litres of water can pass through the filter before it needs replacing, which means it should be replaced roughly every 3 months.

Quooker Scale Control Kit

If you live in a hard water area and plan to install a Quooker Fusion or Quooker Flex Hot Water Tap in your kitchen we strongly advise opting for the Scale Control Filter Set. This has been developed to lengthen the lifespan of your Quooker by reducing the water hardness. It is a reliable descaling solution and will also improves the taste of the Quooker boiling water.

You will benefit in many ways if you regularly drink water, but why choose filtered water over standard tap water? Not only will a filtered tap improve the quality and flavour of your tap water but filtered water has many health benefits too. There are many reasons why you should opt to drink filtered water and our article about the 'Benefits of Filtered Water' covers the topic in more detail.

Should you wish to discuss any of the products featured or require further help and advice related to our filtered water taps and replacement cartridges then please do not hesitate to contact us on 0330 002 0229. We're a knowledgeable team and always happy to help.

* Map image sourced from kinetico.co.uk

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