Water & System Treatment Why it’s time to spread the word about water softeners

With many consumers unaware of the environmental, financial and lifestyle benefits that water softeners have to offer, it’s up to installers to spread the word says Dario Palumbo from Monarch Water.

As energy prices continue to break the bank for consumers and the negative environmental impact of our consumption of electricity, gas and water receives greater focus, it’s vital that installers help the UK to reach its net zero targets.

One way which heating and plumbing installers can increase their revenue, while helping their customers reduce their energy consumption and bills, is to champion water softeners and explain the numerous benefits they offer.

Ground zero

The iconic white cliffs of Dover are synonymous with the geological makeup of the UK. The chalky white cliffs are formed from limestone that has built up over the years and is partly the reason 60% of the UK’s water supply is hard.

When it rains water soaks into the ground and as it moves through the soil and rock it comes into contact with minerals, such as magnesium and calcium. The water dissolves and carries these minerals, which then enter the UK water supply. Depending on where you are in the country will impact on how hard or soft the water is. The harder the water, the more minerals it contains.

Risky business

When heated, hard water can damage household equipment, such as boilers, washing machines, dishwashers and showers, as the minerals calcify to form limescale, which clings to heating elements.

According to British Water, just 3mm of scale on a heating element can reduce its efficiency by 24% because it has to use more energy to heat water since it needs to heat the scale fi rst.

BY NUMBERS

 An easy to use Water Quality Test Kit is a quick way to demonstrate the quality of water in the system

Not only does this mean that equipment will cost more to run, but the lifespan will be greatly reduced too.

Sustainable approach

There’s a simple way that consumers can improve their homes’ efficiency and reduce energy bills and that’s by investing in a high efficiency water softener. These appliances can also offer installers another lucrative line of revenue too. Encouraging customers to invest in the latest generation of water softeners will not only help them improve energy efficiency around the home, but improve wash results from dishwashers and washing machines, and produce noticeably softer skin and hair too. Water softeners are compatible with any type of boiler, so all hard water homes can benefit from installation. At a time when budgets are tight, consumers may be reluctant to invest in a water softener, so it’s important that installers explain the financial and lifestyle benefits these products offer. Seeing is believing, so take a used heating element covered in scale or test the customer’s water so they can see for themselves. At Monarch Water, for example, we have an interactive water hardness checker on our website where installers and customers can input

 Monarch Water’s Ultimate range of water softeners includes battery and mains powered models, with units designed to meet the their postcode to see how hard their supply is.

Inside job

Water softeners work by removing the calcium and magnesium that together cause limescale from hard water, using resin beads. These minerals cling to the beads, softening the water. When the beads need to be cleaned the water softener automatically begins a regeneration process that removes these minerals and sends them to drain.

The great thing about high efficiency water softeners is that they not only prevent any new scale forming, but also remove any existing limescale too –offering whole house protection. They can also help households make savings on hard water costs of up to £600 a year, making payback relatively quick.

The most efficient water softeners feature innovative technology, such as Opti-Brining, which means the units only regenerate when needed, saving both salt and water.

They can also be quick and simple to install, particularly if they come complete with equipment such as a Rapid-Fit bypass, as this removes the need for 80% of the components previously required to fit a water

Quality counts

When it comes to recommending products to your customers, it’s prudent to stick to brands with a proven track record for excellent aftercare and that are approved by the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) to ensure that they are compliant with Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations or Scottish Byelaws. Additionally, it’s important to check out the sustainability credentials of the water softeners being installed. Brands like Monarch Water, for example, plant a tree with Ecologi for every invoice raised.

Sustainability is a vital issue that installers need to highlight in their work and encourage customers to take into consideration in their home. By installing high efficiency water softeners, installers can make significant lifestyle and environmental improvements while increasing their revenue. Water softeners are not only good for people, but the planet too. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/623/53