Originally Published: Apr 18, 2022
Limescale is a mineral deposit that builds up in homes with hard water. Its white, chalky appearance comes from the primary mineral calcium carbonate. When limescale builds up inside your plumbing, it can reduce efficiency, creating clogs and other issues.
Explore twelve ways to prevent and remove limescale, including using devices like water softeners and filters to reduce limescale. Then, browse professional plumbers in the Denver area for expert water softener installations and help with limescale removal.
Importance of Addressing Limescale Buildup
Limescale is a white, chalky mineral deposit that forms in homes with hard water, primarily made up of calcium carbonate. It can build up in plumbing systems, reduce appliance efficiency, and lead to clogs or costly damage. Preventing and removing limescale protects your plumbing and appliances and keeps your water flowing smoothly.
Explore twelve simple and effective ways to prevent and remove limescale — including cleaning tips and water softener solutions. Then, connect with trusted Denver-area plumbers for expert help with water softener installation and long-term prevention.
1. Use a Water Softener
A water softener is a device you can install in your home to remove calcium, magnesium, and other hard minerals from your water. In addition to preventing limescale, it can also make your drinking water taste better and is gentler on skin and hair.
The Department of Energy recommends water softeners for homes with hard water. The right softener can improve comfort and save money on home maintenance. Multiple types of water softeners are available, including granular and resin-based models.
2. Use a Water Filter
If you’re looking for an affordable and convenient solution, water filters offer a simple way to reduce limescale. These filters trap minerals before they reach your faucets. Options range from inline and under-counter filters to whole-house systems depending on your budget and needs. Inline water filters can be installed directly into a water supply pipe, while under-counter filters are helpful for kitchen or bathroom faucets. You can also install a whole-house filter to address widespread limescale.
3. Clean Your Plumbing
For homeowners who prefer to avoid installations, regular and thorough cleaning can also help address limescale. The ideal schedule is to clean the inside of faucets and taps once a week. Pipe snakes are an easy and flexible tool for getting to tough-to-reach spots inside your plumbing.
While weekly cleaning can prevent external limescale buildup, it won’t resolve limescale that builds up inside your pipes. For this, you’ll need to call a professional plumber or install a water-softening or water-filtration device.
4. Use a Baking Soda Solution
A solution of baking soda and vinegar is an affordable and natural way to prevent and remove limescale. Combine one part baking soda with two parts vinegar and pour it down your drains. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then flush the pipes with hot water.
5. Run Hot Water
Running very hot water through your pipes once per day helps prevent limescale. While this treatment is helpful on its own, a hot water flush is usually more effective when paired with a baking soda and vinegar solution.
6. Use a Pipe Cleaner
Pipe cleaners are small plastic tools with small bristles designed to remove excess dirt and debris from the inside of your pipes. They work best when wet, so you should run hot water through them before using them.
7. Pour Vinegar Down the Drain
Limescale is primarily composed of calcium carbonate, which is a base. Pouring vinegar, a gentle acid, down your drains is a safe and natural way to dissolve limescale, clean your pipes, and eliminate odors.
8. Use a Pipe Snake
A pipe snake is a long, flexible device used for cleaning drains. It has a brush on one end that removes dirt and debris. Regular cleaning with a pipe snake can help prevent and remove limescale.
9. Use Less Detergent
Household chemicals like detergents are hard on plumbing because they strip away protective coatings, making pipes more vulnerable to limescale buildup. Reducing household chemical use and opting for gentle and natural detergents helps prevent limescale.
10. Use a Descaler System and a Magnetic Water Conditioner
Descalers and magnetic water conditioners use magnets to attract limescale and remove it from pipes and water. These devices are helpful for both preventing and removing limescale.
11. Reduce Your Water Pressure
Limescale tends to form in areas with high water pressure. Installing a pressure-reducing valve or inline backflow preventer helps reduce this risk while also protecting your plumbing system overall. This simple device prevents water from flowing backward into the pipes.
12. Use Stainless Steel Water Pipes
Stainless steel is a non-reactive metal, meaning it’s less vulnerable to things like rust and limescale buildup. Removing older copper pipes and switching to stainless steel can help minimize the likelihood of limescale in your plumbing.
Limescale Removal Techniques
Follow this step-by-step process for removing limescale:
Step one: Choose an acid
Acid dissolves limescale, so any product like vinegar or lemon juice will remove limescale. The advantage of gentler options like vinegar and lemon is that they also protect your plumbing, whereas harsher chemicals may cause damage to your pipes or septic system.
Step two: Give it time
The acid needs time to soak into the limescale to remove it. Pour your vinegar or lemon juice onto a cloth and place it over the limescale, then leave it to sit for at least half an hour.
Step three: Use gentle abrasion
Remove your soaking cloth and use a hard plastic scraper, pumice stone, or other device to scrape the limescale. Make sure your device is suited to the material — for example, pumice won’t scratch porcelain bathtubs or toilets, but plastic may be better for softer surfaces.
Repeat the above steps as many times as necessary to remove all the limescale.
Contact the Professional Plumbers at High 5
Our pros at High 5 Plumbing deliver expert plumbing services across the Denver metro area. Whether you need a water softener installed or professional pipe cleaning to remove limescale buildup, we’re here to help. Contact us today for reliable service, knowledgeable technicians, and a friendly High 5 experience.
