A new survey of UK plumbers has found that 9 in 10 respondents see hard water as a threat to homeowner’s heating and plumbing.
The expert survey, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) in partnership with Harvey Water Softeners, asked plumbers up and down the country about the impact hard water and the associated limescale build up was having on household appliances and heating systems.
Assessing the damage hard water can cause, 46% of plumbers and heating engineers listed appliance failure as by far the most likely consequence, with boiler failure also listed as a regular issue for 26%. The cost of a hard water related call out was deemed significant too, with 74% of experts anticipating that such a job would cost between £100-£500.
Approximately half of UK households currently live in hard water areas. Households in these areas accumulate at least 1.5mm of limescale build-up within their internal plumbing over a year, it was estimated, which can increase average fuel costs by 28% and cause blockages in pipework and boilers, reducing heating efficiency.
Given that UK households spend on average £12.30 a week on fuel, this means that households in hard water areas could be losing a combined total of £2.3 billion a year.
Jose Sanchez-Noya, head of retail sales at Harvey Water Softeners, said: “Today’s survey confirms that hard water really can cause issues in your home. Nine out of ten heating and plumbing experts record seeing the damage of limescale in their daily work.
“Hard water is a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a scourge in your home. As the experts recognised, a simple solution such as a water softener can remove the risk of limescale breaking your boiler, saving many hundreds of pounds in the process, while also saving on your energy bills.”
Kevin Wellman, chief executive officer at CIPHE, added: “The technical helpline receives calls from its members on the subject of hard water issues affecting plumbing and heating systems all year round. Common issues range from shower valves to heat exchangers that have become faulty. The impact of hard water on the consumer can be costly and disruptive, this is why using a professional CIPHE member can help get it right at quotation.”