Hints & Tips

Appliances that heat water affect the Mineral deposits that reside in water, typically tap water. Through the boiling/heating process these mineral deposits become solidified and can affect the functionality and appearance of your appliance. Such deposits include Lime and Phosphates.

Limescale is the most visible mineral deposit/issue with appliances that heat water.

What Leads to Limescale Formation?

Limescale forms when hard water evaporates, leaving behind
calcium and magnesium minerals. This build-up is more common in areas where
water is heated. As a result, limescale is often found in appliances like
kettles, water heaters and steam irons. Over time, this accumulation can reduce
the efficiency and lifespan of these devices.

How to Minimize Limescale in Your Kettle or Instant Hot Water Dispenser

While you can't completely stop limescale from forming, you
can slow its progress by:

• Using filtered, demineralised or distilled water (in irons).
• Making sure to dry it thoroughly after use (when cooled down), rather than allowing water to sit inside.
• Installing a water filtration system which removes excess calcium and magnesium from your tap water.

Why Is Limescale a Concern?

Limescale not only looks unpleasant and is difficult to clean, but it can also cause several other problems:

• It can give your water a chalky or metallic taste.
• Appliances like kettles and instant hot water dispensers can suffer damage or reduced efficiency.
• It can decrease the heat transfer efficiency in boilers and cooling systems.
• Over time, limescale can restrict water flow in pipes, potentially causing blockages.

The best method to keep this build up from occurring is to descale your appliance.

Methods for Descaling

There are three common ways to descale appliances: using a DIY solution, citric acid, or a commercial descaler. Whichever method you choose, start by removing any loose limescale and use a soft-bristled brush or sponge to scrub off any remaining build-up, being careful not to damage any internal coatings.

Kettles:

Using a Commercial Descaler:

1. Follow the product’s instructions closely, as some descaler's may need to be diluted.
2. Fill the kettle with the recommended solution and water.
3. Boil the kettle, ensuring to stay clear of the fumes emitted from the steam.
4. Let the solution sit for the specified time (usually around 20 minutes).
5. Boil the kettle again with fresh water to remove any chemical residue.

Citric Acid Method:

1. Add one tablespoon of citric acid powder to a cup of hot water and pour it into the kettle.
2. Boil the kettle, ensuring to stay clear of the fumes emitted from the steam.
3. Allow the solution to soak for an hour.
4. Empty the kettle and rinse.
5. Boil the kettle again with clean water to clear out any leftover acid.

Vinegar Method:

1. Fill the kettle three-quarters full with water, add a tablespoon of baking soda, and half a cup of distilled white vinegar.
2. Boil the kettle, ensuring to stay clear of the fumes emitted from the steam.
3. Let the solution sit for an hour.
4. Pour out the mixture, then rinse.
5. Boil the kettle again with fresh water to remove any remaining baking soda.

Lemon Method:

1. Squeeze half a lemon into a kettle half-filled with water.
2. Boil the kettle, ensuring to stay clear of the fumes emitted from the steam.
3. Let the mixture sit for an hour.
4. Pour it out and rinse.
5. Boil the kettle again with fresh water to eliminate any acidic residue.

Instant Hot Water Dispensers:

The above Descale Solutions/Methods of either a Commercial Descaler, Citric Acid, Vinegar or Lemon can be used on the Instant Hot Water Dispensers. Instead of Boiling the appliance, set your dispenser to 100° Temperature and Infinite flow and empty the contents of the reservoir into a suitable jug, being careful to avoid the steam being produced. Once all the water is dispensed discard the contents of the jug. Rinse the reservoir and fill with fresh clean water and dispense a minimum of 1L through the system and discard. Your Instant Hot Water Dispenser has now been descaled.

Appliances that heat water affect the Mineral deposits that reside in water, typically tap water. Through the boiling/heating process these mineral deposits become solidified and can affect the functionality and appearance of your appliance. Such deposits include Lime and Phosphates.

Limescale is the most visible mineral deposit/issue with appliances that heat water.

What Leads to Limescale Formation?

Limescale forms when hard water evaporates, leaving behind
calcium and magnesium minerals. This build-up is more common in areas where
water is heated. As a result, limescale is often found in appliances like
kettles, water heaters and steam irons. Over time, this accumulation can reduce
the efficiency and lifespan of these devices.

How to Minimize Limescale in Your Kettle or Instant Hot Water Dispenser

While you can't completely stop limescale from forming, you
can slow its progress by:

• Using filtered, demineralised or distilled water (in irons).
• Making sure to dry it thoroughly after use (when cooled down), rather than allowing water to sit inside.
• Installing a water filtration system which removes excess calcium and magnesium from your tap water.

Why Is Limescale a Concern?

Limescale not only looks unpleasant and is difficult to clean, but it can also cause several other problems:

• It can give your water a chalky or metallic taste.
• Appliances like kettles and instant hot water dispensers can suffer damage or reduced efficiency.
• It can decrease the heat transfer efficiency in boilers and cooling systems.
• Over time, limescale can restrict water flow in pipes, potentially causing blockages.

The best method to keep this build up from occurring is to descale your appliance.