This article aims to uncover the often-overlooked impact of limescale on resistive wire geyser elements in South Africa, drawing insights from reputable sources to substantiate its findings.

Hard Water Challenges in South Africa

In South Africa, limescale build-up on appliances, including geyser elements, is a prevalent issue due to the hardness of the water. It warrants a closer look at the potential financial implications, especially considering the geyser's significant energy consumption in a home.

The Barrier of Limescale Accumulation

Limescale accumulation on the heating element forms a barrier that hinders heat transfer. A modest 1.6mm layer of limescale results in a noteworthy 12% drop in efficiency, impacting the geyser's overall performance. This forces the geyser to exert additional effort in maintaining accustomed heating levels, coinciding with an increase in energy consumption and contributing to higher utility costs. Eventually, the element burns out, requiring replacement and adding to the cost related to limescale build-up.

Numerous studies, including one from YourHeat  emphasize that scale build-up on heating systems is detrimental to both your wallet and the environment. More energy is required to achieve the same heating output, resulting in a larger carbon footprint for scaled hot water systems compared to non-scaled systems.

Insights from Power Consumption Trials

Rigorous power consumption trials substantiate the impact of limescale, indicating a 4% to 12% increase in energy consumption associated with the presence of limescale on geyser heating elements. These findings provide empirical evidence of the financial consequences tied to limescale.

Studies, such as the one highlighted by Energy5, reveal the following insights:

• Reduced heating efficiency: Scale build-up acts as an insulator, preventing efficient heat transfer from the heating elements to the water. This forces the water heater to work harder and consume more energy to maintain the desired water temperature.
• Increased energy costs: The reduced heating efficiency caused by scaling can result in higher energy bills. In fact, studies have shown that just a quarter-inch layer of scale can increase energy consumption by up to 25% in electric water heaters.
• Shortened lifespan: The corrosion caused by hard water accelerates wear and tear on the water heater, ultimately shortening its lifespan.

 This study further supports these findings, indicating that scale formation on heating elements due to water hardness had a significant impact on power consumption. The results showed an increase in power consumption by approximately 4% to 12% due to scale formation.

XTEND 2kW Flange Elements: Mitigating Limescale Issues

Enter XTEND 2kW flange elements, custom-designed to address limescale in hard water areas. Shielded by a marine-grade stainless steel tube, these elements operate at lower temperatures to minimize limescale formation. Even if limescale dares to show up, it does so on the protective tube, not the element, preserving heat transfer efficiency. The element can be easily removed, cleaned, and re-inserted, providing greater long-term efficiency for heating your geyser.

As highlighted by Halcyan Water, limescale not only ruins the appearance of fixtures but significantly affects the energy efficiency of heating elements. Every 1mm of scale build-up on a heating element requires an extra 10% of energy for it to function, eventually rendering the heating element unusable and necessitating replacement.

Their Research  also underscores that for every 1mm of scale, heating efficiency is decreased between 7-10%. Hard water can reduce the efficiency of heating units by up to 50%, significantly impacting energy bills.

In Conclusion:  Beyond Immediate Inconveniences

Limescale introduces considerations beyond immediate inconveniences, influencing home efficiency and potentially causing financial burdens. It not only reduces efficiency but also shortens the life of the element, requiring regular and costly replacements. Choosing XTEND elements offers a strategic defence against the impact of limescale, ensuring your geyser operates efficiently and economically over time.