What Is Limescale? How Can You Get Rid Of It?

Did you ever recognize that prolonged exposure to limescale can irritate your skin and leave your hair looking lifeless? First things first, though: what is limescale? In this article, you will get all the details you want, including detailed instructions on how to get rid of it and its annoying accumulation.

Limescale refers to the white chalky, residue that remains after minerals, predominantly calcium and magnesium, dissolve in your water. Water hardness increases with a higher concentration of these minerals in the water.

What is Limescale? 

Even if you do not know, there will always be some limescale-causing minerals in your water. The residue left behind by the evaporation of hard water is a hard, chalky white coating known as limescale or calcium carbonate (CaC03). But not just municipal water is affected; extremely concentrated soft water can also deposit calcium carbonate.

It can be a hassle to clean the limescale that builds up in a building’s plumbing, heat exchangers, evaporative coolers, boilers, and chillers. If allowed to accumulate, the chalky deposits restrict water flow, ruin device efficiency, and perhaps increase energy use.

What causes its buildup? 

When in contact with solids, hard water leaves behind deposits of limescale. Heat or pressure fluctuations cause mineral scale deposition.

Percolation of water through deposits of calcium and magnesium carbonates, soluble calcium bicarbonates, and sulfates yields this mineral.

The USGS reports that 85 percent of the country has quite hard to extremely hard water. While it’s safe for humans to consume, hard water may wreak havoc on pipes and other mechanical devices.

Co2 and HC03 ions in water combine to make calcium and magnesium carbonate ions. Over time, this chalky residue accumulates, leaving behind limescale stains and buildup. The functionality, durability, and aesthetics of equipment might suffer as layers accumulate.

There is also a correlation between water temperature and performance. Hot water is a magnet for limescale. It forms more rapidly in hot water. However, scale may also form in ice-cold water.

Where does limescale form? 

Limescale may be easily spotted in many common household fixtures, and frequent cleaning and removal may be required. Potential hotspots for its appearance include:

Limescale formation that is plain to see at 

• Kettles Shower Heads
• Glare veils
• Tiling for the toilet and kitchen
• Taps
• Coffee machines

Unseen Limescale Formation

Grows not only in plain sight but also in places you would not expect.

• Fuel distribution lines
• Radiators
• Pipes for water transport
• Heavy home machines like the washer and the dishwasher
• Your boiler’s heat exchanger.

How does It damage our systems? 

Equipment that uses water for cooling or heating can suffer severe harm from limescale accumulation.

Especially in public facilities, it can cause the toilets, sinks, and showerheads to seem foggy and dingy from the buildup of soap scum and other debris.

Restricts water flow

As limescale accumulates in pipes, it forms layers that restrict water flow and raise frictional resistance. As a result, buildings may need a more powerful pump, which uses more power, to keep up with the increased flow. However, strong pumps are only a stopgap measure. The pipes will require maintenance at some point. There may be leaks, louder operations, and higher energy costs while this is going on.

Increased energy consumption 

A heat exchange surface with a quarter of an inch of limescale deposit can increase energy consumption by as much as 40%. In such cases, plant and facility managers may have to construct pricey, industrial-strength heat exchangers. 

Overheating

Overheating and tube failure due to scaling in the boiler is another possibility. The weight of large deposits can cause cooling towers to collapse. Limescale accumulation, worse, can reduce equipment longevity, cause unscheduled shutdowns, and cost a lot of money.

Corrosion

As an added safety and financial risk, limescale development can corrode steel surfaces, causing fluid leaks and equipment failure. In the event of an emergency, safety valves and emergency process sensors that have been clogged may not open. When boilers get too hot, they might explode. Limescale accumulation can be a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to poor water quality that poses a risk to the health of the building’s residents.

Related: White chalky residue from water

Limescale in Toilet: how can I get rid of it? 

Depending on the location of the limescale buildup, there are many approaches to eliminate it from a toilet. 

• Start by using a toilet brush or a toothbrush to thoroughly clean any places that have limescale. 
• Next, spray the limescale deposits with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. 
• And then let it sit for up to an hour before scrubbing it away with a brush and rinsing it with warm water or flushing the toilet. 

If you have very thick deposits of limescale, you may try leaving a layer of undiluted white vinegar on them for three to four hours (or overnight) and then washing or flushing the toilet to get rid of the vinegar and any leftover residue.

Coke is effective for removing limescale deposits that have settled to the bottom of the toilet bowl. 

• Pour a 2-liter bottle of regular Coke (Not diet) into the bowl and let it sit there for at least four hours, preferably overnight. Coke’s phosphoric acid content makes it ideal for removing limescale; after the recommended waiting period, simply clean and flush the toilet, and it should be sparkling.

Limescale on Shower Head: How can I get rid of it? 

To clean a shower head, just disconnect it from the water supply and soak it in a solution of equal parts freshly squeezed lemon juice and water in a dish or bucket. If you want to soak the shower head for 30 minutes, you will need enough lemon solution to completely immerse it. 

• Take off the shower head, wash it with warm water, and dry it completely. 
• If any limescale remains, wipe it off with a soft cloth and give it another washing if necessary. 
• If your shower head is permanently installed, you may still use the lemon solution by preparing it in a tiny plastic bag and then tying it to the shower arm using twine or an elastic band.

A white coating may form on shower screens, tiles, and bathtubs as limescale builds up over time. 

• A thorough cleaning of the region is the first step in removing them. 
• Then, after waiting an hour, spray the area with a mixture of one part white vinegar to three parts water. 
• After an hour, wash the area with warm water and a soft towel, using a toothbrush for any inaccessible spots, and pat dry.

Limescale on taps: How can I get rid of it? 

Typically, a crusty coating will form around the spout outlet or diffuser/aerator, the base of the spout, and the body of the tap due to the limescale content of the water, which is visible when dry as a white, chalky look. In addition, it will accumulate on the ceramic cartridge/valve’s inside and shorten its lifespan. 

Home methods for removing limescale markings and deposits from taps are the simplest options, and they’re healthier for the environment, too. There are commercial options, but home cures are gentler and cheaper.

Warm water and white vinegar

A mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water can remove limescale from your tap. However, if the limescale is particularly tenacious, you may need to soak a cloth in the solution and leave it on the tap for many hours. After either method, make sure to dry the tap completely by wiping it with a clean, moist cloth (not suitable for chrome or gold-plated taps).

Lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda

Make a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice, then rub it gently into the affected areas; depending on how tenacious the limescale is, you may need to let the combination sit for a few minutes before brushing it away. Remove the paste from the tap by wiping it with a moist towel, and then drying it completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it harmful to consume water that contains limescale? 

You have undoubtedly wondered more than once if it is dangerous to drink water that contains limescale. In short, no. It is a truth that low levels of limescale exposure have no negative effects on health.

Are there bacteria in the limescale?

Legionella bacteria, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, may thrive in limescale deposits. This is especially problematic for aerosol-producing shower heads and faucets.

Can Limestone be Aromatic?

Calcium or lime deposits have a metallic taste and smell like rotting eggs. The bacteria react with the magnesium, creating the flavor. It may be possible to eliminate the accumulation if you discover it early. However, at a certain threshold, the accumulation might solidify and become quite rigid.

Final Thought

Limescale (or scale, lime) deposits have repercussions beyond the bathroom and kitchen. Due to increased downtime and more maintenance, decreased efficiency, and higher operating costs, limescale deposits in industrial equipment cost industrial and commercial buildings billions of dollars annually.

Equipment that uses water to function must exert more effort when limescale accumulates in heat exchangers, evaporative coolers, boilers, chillers, and other water-fed devices. Limescale coatings not only lead to corrosion that eats away at pipes and equipment over time but also provide an ideal environment for leaks and other problems to occur.

Fortunately, there are methods available to permanently eliminate it. We hope this post has been informative in explaining: