FAQs

FAQs about water softening

Get answers to the most common questions we receive here at Lakeside Water & Building Services regarding our water softening systems. If your question isn't here, feel free to get in touch with our team in Peterborough. We work with homeowners all over the UK.

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Our FAQs

Can I drink soft water?

No. Soft water contains salt from the regeneration process and therefore you cannot drink the water. You can brush your teeth with it because you do not swallow the water. We will always leave a hard water drinking tap in your home as this is a legal requirement. If we cannot leave a hard water drinking tap then you will require a reserve osmosis drinking water filter which will remove salt and most other impurities from the water.
How will I save money with soft water?

When you have soft water running through your heating system, then scale and scum that builds up in pipes and in your boiler will be eroded over time. If it is a brand new boiler then the deposits of limescale will not appear within the boiler. This prolongs the life of your boiler significantly. Other appliances will have longer lives with soft water e.g. washing machines, dishwashers and basically any appliance where limescale can develop.

Money can also be saved by using fewer detergents, washing powders, soaps, shampoos and salt for the dishwasher. You will find that the lather will last longer despite using less of these products. Also, limescale will not be deposited in showers, baths and sinks meaning that the need for cleaning products in some cases might not even be required.
What other benefits are there with soft water?

The feel of soft water on your skin is more silky and leaves you feeling more refreshed and cleaner because you are not washing with limescale and scum within the water.

The breakdown of limescale and scum from your heating system will make your heating system more efficient and minimise the need to have the heating system flushed through.
How quickly will I see the effects?

Soft water will start having noticeable effects after two weeks. You will start receiving 100% soft water from the taps. This will in turn start breaking down limescale deposits in pipes and within your boiler and over time will remove these deposits.
I use magnets to remove limescale, is soft water better than this?

The magnets help for a limited time and in a limited fashion. If you add the magnets to your shower then you will see a reduction in build-up around the shower head. However, this only prevents the limescale from attaching itself to the pipes in that area and does not stop the limescale from passing out through the shower head. The magnets have no effect on the build-up within boilers and the other pipes in the house. This also means that it will not help protect washing machines, dishwashers and other appliances.
What benefits can I get from a water filter?

The water filter system that we sell will clean out impurities from the water, making the water from your drinking tap taste better. The system will remove as much as 90% of all impurities and will reduce the need for bottled water or another water filter system.
I have a fridge which is connected to the water system, how will this work?

Some fridges have iced water and ice cube makers built into them and will need a water filter of their own in most cases as they will be taken from a different spur of the pipework. If - when a water softener is installed - the only water going to the fridge is soft water then a reverse osmosis water treatment will be required to remove the salt content from the water.