Discover the primary whole-house air filtration system cost factors when installing one in your home to help remove airborne contaminants and allergens.
Thomas M.
Very well. Have already used them again to fix hot water heater
Service OlympiansWill a Whole-House Water Filter Remove Scale?
Because scales are for reptiles, not your saucepans
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The best water filter for removing calcium is a whole-house system that decreases scale buildup from hard water affecting your appliances, shower, and cookware.
Whole-house water filters cost $1,100 to $3,500, while water softener systems average around $1,500 for a more budget-friendly scale reduction option.
You can clean scale buildup temporarily using vinegar and hot water, baking soda paste, or lemon juice on affected surfaces and appliances.
Hiring a local water softener installation professional provides expert guidance on whole-house filtration systems and water main installation for lasting scale prevention.
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Ever get perplexed and annoyed at the scaly white substance accumulating in your pots, coffee maker, shower tiles, and other surfaces? That’s called scale or limescale. Scale is caused by calcium buildup from hard water. While scale is relatively harmless, showering with hard water can dry out your skin and hair. Scrubbing your coffee maker with vinegar and hot water can make your coffee taste good again, but a whole-house water filter will remove a lot of scale from the equation.
What Causes Scale Buildup?
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Scale is caused by high amounts of calcium and magnesium in tap water. It accumulates on cookware, appliances, and water fixtures like showerheads and sprinkler heads. Having some level of calcium and magnesium in the tap water is good for your bones and teeth, so filters won’t remove 100% of these particles. However, too much of a good thing can still be bad.
Showering regularly with hard water can cause dry skin and hair and make these problems worse if you already experience them. Scale accumulation also causes your appliances, like your dishwasher, to run less effectively, meaning you’ll need a way to stop the problem at the source. If the buildup gets to unsustainable levels, it can even block the pipes.
Homeowners Who Notice a Strange Taste or Odor in Their Water
According to Angi customers, 36% of homeowners report strange tastes or odors in their home’s drinking water—from rotten egg or chemical smells to metallic or salty flavors. These signs could indicate plumbing corrosion, bacteria, or other water quality issues. Don’t ignore them: hire a pro who can diagnose the issue and protect your home’s water supply.
How to Clean Scale
Many people mistake the white, spotty substance for a sign that they aren't cleaning hard enough or are using the wrong cleaners. If you’re furiously scrubbing and the scale just won’t come off, try using vinegar and hot water, which can descale your saucepans and coffee machines safely. Vinegar mixed with baking soda, as well as a lemon juice application, can also get some appliances out of a scaly jam.
Vinegar and hot water: Mix a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle, spray it on problem areas, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe it clean.
Vinegar and baking soda: Mix together until a thick paste forms, spread it over the area, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub it clean.
Lemon juice: Spray the affected area with lemon juice or pour lemon juice over or in the area. Let it sit for up to 10 minutes, then wipe it away. Note: If you’re putting lemon juice in something like a kettle, make sure to rinse it thoroughly with warm, but not boiling, water after wiping.
However, these are just short-term fixes since you can't control how hard the water is where you live. A whole-house water filter will help you eliminate excessive scale buildup and spend less time cleaning.
Whole-House Water Filter vs. Water Softener
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Water softeners and whole-house filters can both decrease the amount of scale that pops up on your appliances, dishes, and shower walls. However, water softeners may not work for every household, and whole-house filters may be too costly for some.
Whole-House Water Filters
Whole-house water filters are the most thorough and robust water filtration systems available, and they work more efficiently than point-of-use systems (like ones that only connect to your kitchen sink). Pros install whole-house water filters in the water main so that they affect your entire home, from drinking water to bath water to the water in your garden hoses and washing machine.
A filter can decrease the amount of scale buildup on your appliances and belongings while removing harmful substances from the water, making your drinking water taste better. Many whole-house water filters contain anti-scale water filtration technology that prevents pipe and appliance inefficiencies, too. With a whole-home system, all the water that enters your home, no matter where it comes out, runs through a powerful system that removes hard minerals and decreases the ones that cause scale.
Water Softeners
Water softener systems are not as big of an investment as whole-house filtration systems, but they do have chemistry-based limitations. Depending on the composition of the water supply where you live, the system may remove some scale from the water with ease or barely make an impact on it. Overall, softeners do not remove scale-causing substances as well as filters do.
There are DIY water softener options that fit under the sink, over the tap, or over shower heads as budget-friendly alternatives to a whole-house system, but they don’t prevent the problem at the source. These systems often require calling a local water softener installation company. They can also help you install a whole-house water filter.
Pro Tip
A water softener may reduce some contaminants in your water, but it is not meant to be a replacement for robust contaminant reduction offered by water filters.
How Much Does a Whole-House Water Filter Cost?
A whole-house water filtration system costs $1,100 to $3,500. Comparatively, a water softener system cost $1,500 on average. This makes water softener systems a more budget-friendly solution for removing scale, although a whole-house water filter is the most effective at removing scale and other contaminants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water softener services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
5.0★ avg. • 6 total reviews
- Mike Z.
As usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians - Michael S.
Did a great job replacing the ice maker and water regulator on my refrigerator. He was quick and thorough, very friendly and professional. If I needed a heart transplant I'd want him to do it!!!
- Maria C.
We had a gutter blockage that was causing water to sheet down the side of the house and ultimately it started to come in at a window (need mortar people next). Called around 7:30am, and he responded by 8am. He was able to come out the same morning and do a look over and clean out. He also...
- Brad S.
Scott checked our large crawl space for mold and water infiltration and recommended a viable solution. The crew was efficient and they cleaned up well after the job. The job was expensive but I am confident that I won't have to deal with the problem again. Highly recommend.
AdvantaClean of Dublin - Ann S.
They were the most through inspecting the water system in my house. Even going the extra mile to get the water professionally tested for contamination.
Hague Water Conditioning, Inc. - Diane C.
It went very well. The drain is absorbing all the access water. I had other estimates a year earlier and Hughes was right on. I will use them, again.
Hughes Construction Co - Service Olympians
- Mike B.
The Paul Davis team was very professional and went the extra mile to take care of my water damage. The work was very high quality and done in a timely manner. I would highly recommend their services.
Paul Davis Restoration - Gene S.
Honesty is hard to find in business today. GBR met me today at a 3 story building regarding my being told that I needed to tuckpoint the brick because of water leaks. The owners took the time to evaluate the situation and advised me that I did not need their service at all. They pointed me...
GBR Masonry Inc - Stewart W.
They unclogged the drain and sent me a bill for more than 4 times what I paid before. I called the Water Works to ask why the bill was so high and that they should have gotten my authorization before assuming they could make expensive decisions like that on my behalf and for their benefit....
The Waterworks
The homeowners guide to water softener services
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