Limescale in Kettle

ChaosD

Hi guys,

I've scoured the forums and found a lot of threads about limescale in kettles and the like. I'm pretty new to Ireland and just wanted to ask where's the best place to get a limescale filter for my kettle (Tesco kettle)?

I don't mean a softening system I mean something to put inside the kettle to collect the limescale or maybe something that will absorb the limescale?

I've Dunnes, LIDL and Aldi stores near me but I didn't see anything there that could help.

Thanks,
Chaos

There used to be "limescale catchers" a ball of steel wool that was put into the kettle to collect the limescale as the water boiled, but I haven’t seen them for a long time.

Most people just buy de-scaler to remove the limescale after it has formed.

Paddy Fields

Deleted User wrote: »

There used to be "limescale catchers" a ball of steel wool that was put into the kettle to collect the limescale as the water boiled, but I haven’t seen them for a long time.

Most people just buy de-scaler to remove the limescale after it has formed.

You can still get them on eBay: Kettle de-scaler on eBay

ChaosD

What does a descaler do?

ShineyD1

What you need is an electronic water conditioner. We installed one (a quick DIY job) 6 years' ago after getting through a kettle per year. We are still using the same kettle after 6 years. Not only that but when we renovated our bathroom and removed the old pipes, they were all clean. Good thing is you don't add chemicals or salts - the little gadget does it all for you, keeping the calciumd dissolved in the water but (somehow) not letting it stick to anything. I was sceptical at first, but now would not be without it. You can get them here www.touteau.comhttp://www.touteau.com
and they ship throughout Europe.

coylemj

ChaosD wrote: »

What does a descaler do?

Removes limescale from a kettle or coffee maker, usually comes in the form of a liquid or tablets so you follow the instructions on the packet, how often you need to do it depends on the hardness of the local water and how often you use the appliance. For a washing machine you'd use something like Calgon which I'm sure you've seen ads for on the TV.

coylemj

ChaosD wrote: »

Hi guys,

I've scoured the forums and found a lot of threads about limescale in kettles and the like. I'm pretty new to Ireland and just wanted to ask where's the best place to get a limescale filter for my kettle (Tesco kettle)?

Have you looked at the website of your local authority to check the hardness of your water supply? I'm just wondering if you are 'new to Ireland' are you really sure that you actually need a limescale filter i.e. can you see accumulated limescale in your kettle already?

ShineyD1

You can fidn a map here - put together by a water-softening company so not sure how accurate it is:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celticwatersolutions.ie/uploads/images/Water%2520Hardness%2520Map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celticwatersolutions.ie/water-softeners/water-softeners-ireland&h=366&w=500&sz=37&tbnid=LymMi_fbWgsPcM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=123&zoom=1&usg=__55xOTrRiVvQY2Xn_QxDTMttoqsY=&docid=cJbX9V6kwOs4LM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IPFnUu2_KqKn0wXg44CACA&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAw

bargainbucket

You can still get them steel di scalers in heatons

Alun

coylemj wrote: »

Have you looked at the website of your local authority to check the hardness of your water supply? I'm just wondering if you are 'new to Ireland' are you really sure that you actually need a limescale filter i.e. can you see accumulated limescale in your kettle already?

Do local authorities here even publish that kind of info?

I know they do on the continent, but when I moved here from the Netherlands and rang up Bray Town Council to find out what the hardness figure was (I seem to remember there's a DIN standard scale for such things in Europe) I got passed from pillar to post but eventually found someone who had something to do with water who claimed he didn't know!! Now it transpires our water is about as soft as it possibly can be, so it's not really a problem for me, but it's crazy that I couldn't get hold of such information easily.

Alun

ShineyD1 wrote: »

You can fidn a map here - put together by a water-softening company so not sure how accurate it is:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celticwatersolutions.ie/uploads/images/Water%2520Hardness%2520Map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celticwatersolutions.ie/water-softeners/water-softeners-ireland&h=366&w=500&sz=37&tbnid=LymMi_fbWgsPcM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=123&zoom=1&usg=__55xOTrRiVvQY2Xn_QxDTMttoqsY=&docid=cJbX9V6kwOs4LM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IPFnUu2_KqKn0wXg44CACA&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAw

Bears no resemblance to reality for me in Bray anyway. We get our water from Roundwood and there's barely a calcium ion to be seen in it

coylemj

Alun wrote: »

Do local authorities here even publish that kind of info?

Yup...

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Water/DrinkingWaterQuality/WaterHardness/
http://www.sdcc.ie/services/environmental-health/water-services/drinking-water
http://www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/councildepartments/wateranddrainage/findit/watersupply/#Water%20Supply%20-%20Hardness

Alun wrote: »

I know they do on the continent, but when I moved here from the Netherlands and rang up Bray Town Council to find out what the hardness figure was (I seem to remember there's a DIN standard scale for such things in Europe) I got passed from pillar to post but eventually found someone who had something to do with water who claimed he didn't know!! Now it transpires our water is about as soft as it possibly can be, so it's not really a problem for me, but it's crazy that I couldn't get hold of such information easily.

Wicklow Co. Co. are not as forthcoming with the data, can't find any values for water hardness on their website and with the water function moving to Irish Water, I can't see them bothering to update their website, especially with the (lack of) response you got!

ChaosD

coylemj wrote: »

Have you looked at the website of your local authority to check the hardness of your water supply? I'm just wondering if you are 'new to Ireland' are you really sure that you actually need a limescale filter i.e. can you see accumulated limescale in your kettle already?

Hi, I've only been here about a month. There were some white flakes in my water after I boiled it and when I googled it up they called it limescale?

ChaosD

I did check out dublin city council's website on water quality but didn't manage to find anything on water hardness level except that everything was in compliance with safety regulations when I looked at their reports.

ChaosD

bargainbucket wrote: »

You can still get them steel di scalers in heatons

Thanks!! I might check them out

coylemj

ChaosD wrote: »

I did check out dublin city council's website on water quality but didn't manage to find anything on water hardness level except that everything was in compliance with safety regulations when I looked at their reports.

Found this in 5 seconds searching for 'hardness' on the city council website....

Water in Dublin City is rated as soft. The exceptions are some areas along the northside of the City, which are fed from Leixlip Water Treatment Plant.

http://www.dublincity.ie/WaterWasteEnvironment/DrinkingWater/WaterQuality/Pages/Frequentlyaskedquestionsonwaterqualityproblems.aspx#what%20is%20water%20hardness?

ChaosD

Hey thanks!!! Guess I'll have to improve my searching skills on the web :P