Is your water heater no longer working properly?
Is your hot water pressure and quantity reduced?
Has your energy consumption increased drastically recently?

The most likely cause? Limescale!

Limscale is an accumulation of mineral deposits, in the form of small crystals, that forms inside water-heating equipment.

In various parts of the world, such as the United States, England, Argentina and France, water is particularly rich in calcium and magnesium, the main source of limescale formation. This water is known as ‘hard water’.

Several causes have been identified for this accumulation of minerals:

• Heating the water: When water is heated, minerals collect and deposit on heating surfaces and in pipes. The higher the temperature, the faster the precipitation process. That’s why it’s the water heater’s number 1 enemy!When you go on holiday, we recommend that you put your water heater in ‘anti frost’ mode. This reduces heating times and limits the activation of the minerals!
• Weak water circulation: Weak or stagnant water circulation encourages the formation of limescale. This is because the minerals have little or no movement and have time to settle on the surfaces.
• Prolonged contact time: Unlike a kettle, the elements of a water heater are constantly in contact with the water. As a result, scale deposits much more quickly.

The formation of limescale, however small it may seem, can have many consequences for your water heater:

• Reduced efficiency: the limescale deposit acts like a thermal insulator. This blocks heat transmission, greatly increasing the time it takes to heat the water.
• Increased energy consumption: The reduction in efficiency requires your water heater to use extra energy to reach the desired temperature. This means a significant increase in your electricity bill!
• Risk of malfunction: Too much limescale build-up can clog the valves and attack the internal components of your water heater. This can lead to major malfunctions!
• Increased maintenance costs: In the best of cases, the presence of limescale will only lead to an increase in your maintenance costs. To avoid the three consequences mentioned above, regular cleaning is strongly recommended.

As a supplier of temperature control solutions, such as thermostats and heating elements, your Cotherm expert advises you to carry out full maintenance on your water heater at least once a year. Find out how with our Expert advice: How do I maintain my water heater? – Cotherm

Have you taken too long to replace the components in your water heater? Don’t panic, Cotherm supplies the largest distributors of plumbing spare parts in France, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK. As a supplier of genuine spare parts, we guarantee the replacement of parts from the biggest brands of water heaters. Use our interactive map to find your nearest sales outlet: Genuine spare parts – Cotherm

Don’t hesitate, choose the genuine spare part manufactured by Cotherm!