Did you know that scale and water spots, while related, are actually two different things? It’s important to define the two, in order to understand the results you’ll see with the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner.

Scale Buildup

Scale buildup is a hard mineral deposit that forms inside piping, water heaters, showerheads, icemakers, faucet aerators and other water-using equipment. Scale can also be referred to as limescale or calcium buildup. Scale forms when minerals come out of solution and stick to surfaces where water is flowing, in response to stressors such as changes in temperature, pressure or turbulence. Scale in pipes, plumbing and appliances leads to high repair bills or replacement of water-using appliances. It can also reduce the flow rate of your home’s water, cause water to spray sideways out of faucets and showerheads, and has been known to cause pinhole leaking in pipes.

Evaporative Mineral Buildup

Evaporative mineral buildup or spotting looks similar to scale buildup and is made up of the same minerals, but forms differently. Evaporative mineral can form on the outside of faucet aerators, shower doors and counter tops when water splashes and is allowed to dry or evaporate, leaving the minerals behind. Over time this evaporative mineral will start to cause a buildup if it is not frequently wiped off. Evaporative mineral spotting is the most visible indication that you might have a hard water problem in your home.

The goal of the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner is to eliminate all scale build-up, to save you money on appliance repair and replacement bills, and to protect your home’s piping and fixtures against damaging buildup on the inside, where you can’t get to it even if you wanted to take the time to clean it out. Because minerals remain in your water after treatment with the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner, you will probably still have evaporative mineral spotting, and for a brief period when you first install it, it might be even worse than it was before.  If you’d like help visualizing the difference between evaporative mineral and scale, the pictures of the showerheads above should help.  The showerhead on the right is using untreated water, and scale is building up and covering the holes where water normally flows.  Eventually water will start spraying sideways, and water flow might even be totally restricted.  The showerhead on the left is using water treated with the EasyWater No-Salt Conditioner.  Evaporative mineral is present where water splashed on the surface of the showerhead and dried, but the holes are completely clear because the treated water continuously flows through them.  The evaporative mineral on this showerhead will clean off very easily, and you won’t have to replace it due to scale depositing.

The level of hardness in your water will affect your water spotting results.  The photos above were taken using water that is 20 grains per gallon, and your home’s water might be  higher or lower in hardness minerals.  If you’d like help determining your water hardness level give us a call at 1(877) 708-3338 or click the chat link above. Our residential specialists will listen to your water situation, and make the best water treatment recommendation for you based on your needs.