White stains and hard crust on shiny surfaces – a problem faced by almost every owner of an apartment or private house. Even if you carry out general cleaning weekly, unpleasant divorces return after a couple of days. The main reason for this phenomenon lies in the chemical composition of tap water, namely in the content of certain minerals.
Where does lime scale come from
The main culprit of pollution hard water. It has dissolved excessive amounts of salts of alkaline-earth metals, above all calcium и magnesium. When water droplets remain on the surface of the faucet and evaporate, these minerals crystallize, becoming a solid white layer.
There are several key factors that accelerate this process:
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High temperature. When water is heated, salts precipitate much faster. This is why scaling forms more intensively on bathroom taps or kitchen hot water faucets than on garden hydrants.
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Microcracks in the coating. Lime deposits more easily “cling” to rough surfaces and microscopic damage to chrome or brass.
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Evaporation. If the plumbing fixtures are not wiped dry after use, each dried drop leaves behind a mineral residue.
Impact on plumbing and household
Plaque is not just an aesthetic problem. Over time. lime deposits accumulate not only outside but also inside the mechanisms. This leads to a number of unpleasant consequences:
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Reduced water pressure due to clogging aerator.
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Lever or valve of the mixer is tight.
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Premature wear of rubber seals and gaskets, causing leaks.
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Loss of the natural shine of metal products.
How to slow down the appearance of deposits
To keep your plumbing fixtures cleaner longer, it is important to minimize the contact of salts with the metal surface. The most effective way to do this is to install main filters or systems water softeningwhich replace calcium ions with sodium ions. This dramatically changes the structure of the water, preventing hard crusting.
In a domestic environment, the simple habit of wiping the faucet with a dry microfiber cloth after each use helps. It is also a good idea to periodically clean aerator screensoak it in a weak acid solution to restore normal water flow.
Regular maintenance of the metal elements and control of the quality of the incoming water can preserve the original appearance of the interior for a long time.
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