Improve water quality and energy efficiency with high efficiency water softeners, says Dario Palumbo, Marketing Manager at Monarch Water.
Following the UK government’s introduction of the Heat and Buildings Strategy in October last year to help the nation reach net zero carbon by 2050, there is now a greater focus on how efficiently buildings are heated in the UK.
The rapidly rising energy prices and a keener interest in environmental factors are driving consumer interest in the efficiency of their homes’ hot water and heating systems. This is great news for installers, who are best placed to offer advice on how to maximise efficiency and recommend the installation of high efficiency water softeners.
Back to basics
Although new hot water and heating equipment on the market is now more energy efficient than ever before, to ensure that they are running at optimal levels there is one important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration and that’s water quality.
With well over half of the UK linked to a hard water supply, the likelihood of damage to heating elements inside equipment is extremely high. Hard water has a high mineral content which calcifies when heated, creating limescale. This is bad news for heating and hot water systems as the scale forms on heating elements in boilers, washing machines, dishwasher and showers, as well as inside pipes.
Limescale is rarely considered beyond the deposits visible in bathrooms and kitchens, but the hidden damage can cost homeowners considerably. Heating elements that are coated in just 1.6mm of scale have to work up to 12% harder to heat water and 3mm up to 24% harder (British Water). Not only does scale reduce efficiency and increase running costs, but the likelihood of breakdowns is far higher too.
Carbon reductions
In order to help customers reduce their carbon footprint, installers need to ensure they are armed with the facts. Explaining the benefits of improving water quality by fitting the latest generation of water softeners, installers can increase their businesses’ revenue, while supplying their customers with the most environmentally effective solution to hard water.
Installers should champion modern water softeners as the ultimate and affordable solution to hard water and as such they should be viewed as an integral part of any home’s heating and hot water set up.
High efficiency water softeners not only prevent further limescale build up inside equipment, but remove any existing deposits too. This means that they have the potential to optimise a home’s efficiency, including better results from dishwashers and washing machines.
Clear benefits
As well as adding an additional line of revenue for installers, the latest models are easy to site too – thanks to their compact design. Installers recommending units that feature the Rapid-Fit bypass can also cut down on fitting time as this innovative technology reduces the equipment needed to fit by a significant 80%.
Consumers are also keen to reduce water consumption, which is why innovations in technology have resulted in features such as Opti-Brining in the latest generation of water softeners. This technology means that water softeners only regenerate when needed and use up to 32% less water and 13% less salt than previous models.
With consumer interest in improving their homes’ efficiency at an all-time-high, installers have the ideal opportunity to help their customers protect their homes and finances.
