MYTH: The hardness of tap water changes regularly

The water that comes out of your tap is very stable in composition. This is because water companies do everything they can to keep it as stable as possible. They are, in fact, strictly monitored to ensure they comply with all the requirements laid down in the Water Decree. As a result, water hardness almost never changes. The main reason for a change in water hardness is when the water company switches to a different water source. As this almost never happens, it will also be rare for your water hardness changes significantly.

Small variations, such as 0.1 dH, are possible; this is why water companies often use a range of 0.2–0.3 dH when specifying water hardness.

What if the water hardness changes?

A water softener softens the water to 0 dH (unless there is a residual hardness is set), regardless of any minor fluctuations in water hardness. Only if the hardness were to suddenly increase or decrease significantly would a water softener need to be readjusted. This is a minor adjustment. So, if you ever receive a letter from your water supplier announcing a change in water hardness, simply give us a call and we will adjust the system. Fortunately, this almost never happens.

Setting the residual hardness

With less limescale, you’ll naturally be less bothered by it, and it’ll take longer for your appliances to become encrusted with limescale and for your bathroom to lose its shine. But it will happen eventually! And why are you buying a water softener in the first place? To remove the limescale completely, surely?

If, however, you wish to retain a residual hardness (for example, 3dH), we can arrange this for you without any problem.

Our water softeners are fitted as standard with a mixing valve that allows us to set any level of residual hardness. So if you’d like us to, we’ll do that.