Calcium is essential for bone and muscle growth, and water contains it. Unfortunately, too much calcium can cause limescale buildup on your home’s plumbing fixtures, appliances, and fixtures.
It can also leave tough stains on sinks, tubs, shower heads, and other surfaces. It also affects soap and detergent effectiveness.
Water filters eliminate calcium. Water filters that remove calcium are widely available. Calcium is best removed by ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. Calcium and other minerals are removed by ion exchange filters to fully demineralize water. High calcium levels in the water supply shorten the filter membrane’s lifespan. Check the water flow rate before buying because excess minerals in the water supply can quickly clog or degrade filters.
Brita and other carbon water filters remove calcium. These filters remove chlorine and other organic chemicals from water and improve its taste. Carbon filters enhance water flavor. In-line filters can also remove calcium from the water. If your health prevents you from taking calcium, install a high-quality reverse osmosis potable water system that removes calcium.
Calcium and lime water filters can remove particles that clog pipes and showerheads. It can also damage your faucet or other calcium and lime-covered appliances. These filtration methods reduce calcium in water filters. Filters reduce water flow and consumption.
As a water filter technician, I’ve seen many hard water and appliance calcium buildup customers. A customer’s showerhead had low water pressure due to calcium. Calcium was abundant in the water. After consulting with the customer, we installed a calcium-lime water filter. After a few weeks, the customer reported improved water pressure and no calcium buildup in their showerhead. The customer was satisfied after installing a water filter.
Finally, most water filters remove calcium. Ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and Brita carbon filters remove calcium the best. In-line filters remove calcium from the water. However, high calcium levels in the water supply damage the filter membrane, reducing its lifespan. The water flow rate should be checked before buying. Hard water sufferers should buy a water filter to remove calcium buildup in appliances and improve water quality.
What is calcium?
Calcium is essential for bone, tooth, heart, and muscle health.
Calcium must stay within a certain range in your blood to protect your bones and muscles. Your body borrows calcium from those bones during an acute shortage.
Supplements and food provide calcium. Absorption is best from bioavailable calcium sources like milk and other dairy products.
Only take enough calcium supplements to meet the daily recommended intake. Calcium overdose may damage the heart.
Why is calcium in the water a problem?
Many plants and animals require calcium. Invertebrates like snails and mussels need it for their bones, while algae (coccolithophores) use it to build protective shells.
Water dissolves calcium from limestone, marble, calcite, dolomite, gypsum, fluorite, and apatite. It’s crucial to water hardness.
Calcium concentrations in drinking water vary greatly by source. Mineral waters have higher calcium concentrations than spring and purified waters, similar to tap water.
If you’re worried about your health, drinking high calcium can cause subacute effects like extreme fatigue, nausea, headache, brittle nails and hair, leg and abdominal cramps, preeclampsia, twitching, metabolic syndrome acidosis, and cardiovascular disorders. Calcium supplements or diet changes can usually alleviate these symptoms.
How Can I Remove Calcium from Water?
Calcium is necessary for human health, but it can cause issues. Calcium deposits on home appliances and pipes can cause limescale buildup, which reduces efficiency and damages them over time.
There are ways to remove calcium from the water. A water softener can remove calcium buildup and extra minerals from tap water.
Ions from water molecules settle at the bottom of a pan when water is boiled.
Boiling does not permanently remove calcium deposits from water.
The best way to remove calcium from water is to use a water filtration system with an ion exchange membrane. Many whole-house water filters have these membranes.
What’s the Best Way to Remove Calcium from Water?
In water, calcium is found. Limescale buildup on plumbing fixtures, showerheads, toilets, and dishwashers can occur if consumed excessively.
A water softener is the best way to remove excess calcium from drinking water. These systems remove 5-75 GPG/PPM of hard water ions from drinking water for optimal hydration.
They won’t prevent calcium buildup in your pipes and drains unless you install a whole-house reverse osmosis system.
Calcium on a RO membrane makes it inefficient.
Calcium buildup in pipes and drains can cause costly repairs if left unchecked. It’s crucial to prevent calcium accumulation to avoid such costly issues. There are several effective ways to do that, fortunately!
