Beat Limescale in the Algarve: Protect Your Pipes, Taps & Appliances
White marks on taps. Cloudy kettle water. A shower screen that never looks truly clean. If this sounds familiar, you’re dealing with limescale, an everyday challenge for many Algarve households. This guide explains why it happens, what it does to your plumbing, the quick wins you can try today, and the longer‑term solutions Agua Choca can install to protect your home in Faro, Loulé, Albufeira, Portimão, Lagos and across the region.
WHY ALGARVE HOMES SUFFER FROM LIMESCALE
Hard water contains elevated levels of dissolved minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium). When heated or left to evaporate, inside kettles, water heaters, showerheads, taps and pipework, those minerals precipitate into the chalky, stubborn deposits we call limescale. Coastal conditions, groundwater sources and mineral‑rich aquifers make limescale a common reality here.
TYPICAL SIGNS INCLUDE:
* Chalky rings in kettles and white crust on taps and showerheads
* Stiff laundry and glassware that won’t sparkle
* “Flat” or weak showers as scale starts to clog aerators and mixers
* A water heater that seems to run longer but deliver less
WHAT LIMESCALE DOES TO YOUR PLUMBING (AND BILLS)
Left unchecked, limescale can:
* REDUCE PIPE DIAMETER AND FLOW, leading to pressure complaints and slow‑to‑fill fixtures
* INSULATE HEATING ELEMENTS, forcing water heaters to work harder and use more electricity or gas
* WEAR OUT CARTRID...
