How Limescale Corrodes Metallic Finishes
In Your Bathroom, Shower & Kitchen
Read on for advice on how to protect your expensive bathroom taps and shower mixers.
Noticed A Dull Appearance To All Things Metal In Your Bathroom?
That Is A Thin Layer Of “Harmless” Looking Limescale Deposit.
But things are only going to get worse unless you attack limescale formation where it hurts, and that is by using proven chemistry to stop those troublesome mineral ions from joining forces to form metal-eating scale.
No metal finish is safe including chrome, bronze, brass and even stainless steel. Your fancy shower mixer with a brushed black finish will not stand a chance once limescale gets a taste of it, eventually leading to pitting and flaking.
Forget wrapping your taps with lemons every weekend, as you may have forgotten a little known fact: the acid in lemons is known to slowly corrode some metals. You are better off making some lemonade instead.
In this post, I’m going to explain how limescale will eventually destroy those lovely metallic surfaces in your bathroom, shower and kitchen.
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Both Aquabion and Advanced Hydro offer a great easy-fit zero-maintenance solution to reducing limescale in your home. Drop us an email if you want to know more about these products.
Please Don’t Do This!
What Make Limescale So Dangerous To Metal Finishes?
Something Called Electrolysis
The science behind this is quite complicated to understand and requires at least a GCSE in Chemistry (which I don’t have), but here is something I read on the web:
- Scale is a metal salt and can conduct small amounts of electricity.
- It acts like an anode when layered over metal.
- The metal (i.e. the chrome, brass, bronze, steel, etc plating) acts as a cathode.
- Electrolysis then allows electrons to flow between them.
- This eventually leads to pitting and flaking of the metal surface.
- The limescale will become emboldened and hunger for more metal ions (disclaimer: I made this bit up).
I have no idea if this is correct or not, but I have witnessed the damage caused to my own chrome basin mixer due to underestimating and ignoring the dangers of limescale build-up. Here is an actual picture of said mixer after 1 year of neglect.
Limescale Loves To Eat Chrome
Why Tap Manufacturers Never Offer Long Warranties On Finishes
Always Read The Warranty Disclaimer
You have a great looking bath, basin and shower mixer and your mind is at ease because of the 15 year warranty that came with those products. But did you check the small print on the manufacturer’s website – who bothers to anyway. Here are some examples from some of the major manufacturers in the UK:
Brushed Brass, Black and Gun Metal Grey finishes come with a three year guarantee.
Excluded from Guarantee: Special Finishes.
Chromed brassware and stainless steel products have a 15 year guarantee (2 years on metallic finishes).
The smart manufacturers know that the battle between scale and metallic plating is a losing one and that limescale will eventually triumph.
Matt Black Shower Mixer In The Early Stages Of Ruin
Dangers Of Bathroom Limescale Dissolving Cleaners
Let’s Try Some Toxic Man-Made Chemicals
Something that can dissolve something that destroys metal is not something you want to be exposed to too often, but we all do it regardless without a care for our health. The front of that limescale busting cleaner may look harmless with a beautiful image of nature and plants and stuff, but look at the back and you might see some of the following mentioned (some commonly found in funeral homes):
Formaldehyde, Hydrochloric Acid, Enzymes, VOCs and Alkylphenols
An open window will simply help disperse some of the fumes throughout your home. And don’t think for one minute that your struggling bathroom extractor fan will save you.
Some of these harsh chemical cleaners do actually work great in removing limescale from taps, but the problem is that over time they may also remove the very thing you are trying to protect: the metal plating itself. This not only applies to chrome but also special finishes like matt/brushed black, bronze, brass and nickel – not even stainless steel is safe.
Here are some comments regarding bathroom cleaners from the web:
Another cause of damage to chrome taps is exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals…
Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, as they can damage the matte finish…
Another thing to understand is that even if a cleaning product is well known, that doesn’t mean it can’t damage surfaces…
Overuse of cleaning chemicals can damage a surface over time…
Yet More Chemicals Are Added To Disguise The Smell Of Toxic Fumes
Examples Of Limescale Corrosion On Taps And Shower Mixers
So How Do I Save My Bathroom Tap And Shower Mixer From Corrosion?
By Reducing Limescale Formation In The First Place
Installing a domestic water conditioner can reduce limescale formation by up to 80%. It basically stops those mineral ions from combining together to form scale that loves to stick to metal surfaces. Instead, they combine to form a non-sticky powdery form of lime that can be easily wiped away from metal and glass surfaces.
Another important consideration is the quality of the metal plating, which varies greatly from one manufacturer to another. So, if you are after a quality bath, shower or kitchen mixer then our friends over at Bathroom Duck will be able to help. They have some great deals on Bathroom Taps and Shower Mixers. Also check out their range of Special Metal Finishes that are extremely hard-wearing and therefore more resistant to limescale corrosion.
Please note that there are zero paid/referral/reward/etc links of any type on this site.
Advanced Hydro ACP15 & ACP20 Water Conditioners
Aquabion S15 & S20 Water Conditioners
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