Depending on how they work, hard water treatment methods can fall into one of four categories. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a summary of how each category works, what it does, how it does it and their best water distillers 2023.

1). Physical Water Conditioners

Physical Water Conditioners are a type of water conditioner that physically alters the properties of hardwater to reduce or remove limescale formation.

1a. Electronic water conditioners (also known as electronic descalers, or limescale inhibitors) generally include a small container of electronics and one or several coils wrapped around pipes.

Their purpose: The electronic conditioners transmit a radio or audio frequency signal into water using induction coils. These coils are placed around the pipework. This prevents limescale accumulation in water pipes and helps to reduce existing scale. The softer scale is harder to clean, although it may still form on faucets and shower heads.

Features Electronic descalers offer an economical solution to limescale problems. Because they do not require plumbing, they are extremely easy to set up. Healthy minerals are preserved and water is safe to drink because they are not added to or removed from the water.

Negatives

1b – Electrolytic water conditioning is an inline device that must be plumbed to the water system. To suit your pipework, you can buy them with end connectors of 15mm to 22mm and 28mm.

Their function. An electrolytic conditioning contains two dissimilar metals that act as a catalyst and anode. The electrolytic potential that flows between the anode and the cathode causes small amounts of metalions to dissolve in water. The negatively charged scale then becomes unstable because the metal ions form particles.

Advantages Electrolytic scale inhibitors are relatively affordable, just like electronic descalers. They do not require electricity and have no annual operating costs. They protect entire houses from limescale problems. The water treated is safe for drinking.

Negatives. To maintain the maximum level of protection, electrolytic water conditioners will need to regularly be replaced. Additionally, unlike electronic conditioning, they must be plumbed into the pipes, increasing the initial cost.