White Water related deposits on fixtures (Calicum?)

[Tom C]

I have found that our sink fixtures and shower fixtures have a lot of white (calcium?) water-related spots on them. The sink stoppers and shower hoses are especially spotted. The sink stoppers are easy enough to remove and polish clean with a bit of elbow grease and non-scratching cleaner, however the ~36-inch metal clad shower head hose would be impossible to clean this way.

My Questions:
1) What is a good cleaner? (looking for a soak only option, vinegar? Lemon juice? Some other commercial product?)

2) What is a good prevention? (I wanted to ask here before going to any of those water treatment places as I think I will get better info here.... I think everyone understands that I am not looking for a salesman’s response... )

Thank you for your helpful information in advance! :coolsmiley:

[Rango]

Vinegar

[OpusX1]

CLR. You can get it at a hardware store.

[Debfrommaine]

Vinegar

[vintageogauge]

Get a Nova water softener and you won't have those deposits, we had them and now, nearly two years later after installing the Nova system, no more calcium spots or buildup.

[Sage327]

Brasso is a metal cleaner and polisher

[retiredguy123]

If you routinely spray everything in the shower with one of those daily shower cleaners while the shower is still wet, it will prevent calcium buildup, especially on the shower walls and glass. Once it builds up, it is very difficult to clean. Other than that, I think a whole house water softener would be the only real solution.

[MSchad]

Get a Nova water softener and you won't have those deposits, we had them and now, nearly two years later after installing the Nova system, no more calcium spots or buildup.

Totally agree with water filters and softener. Why continuously clean, and clean, and clean, when you can prevent the deposits.

[Carla B]

So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?

[retiredguy123]

So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?
The water in The Villages is pretty good as compared with other water systems I have used. So, I don't think either a filter or a softener is needed. But, a softener is specifically designed to prevent calcium deposits. I don't understand why someone would want to filter all the water in the house. I also don't like the idea that water is sitting in these systems without circulating all the time. I have a concern that the water could become contaminated. I also know that some people will disagree with everything I said.

[vintageogauge]

The filters won't remove the calcium the Nova softener will. We have both Nova systems and have great water, clear ice, and no need for a fridge filter.

[Martian]

So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?

Water filters remove contamination like Chlorine, which affect the taste and some may potentially be unhealthy.

Water softeners "soften" water. They do not remove calcium, they change it into a different form that won't build up on water fixtures, won't require you to use more soap in the laundry, etc.

Also, there is a "myth" that salt based water softeners can be bad for people on limited sodium diets. This is NOT true. All of the research indicates there is no significant amounts of sodium in the water if the softener is working correctly.

However, a couple con's to salt based water softeners:

1. It is hard to make good coffee or tea with soft water. You can use it, but the coffee/tea flavor will not be extracted as well and you will notice the grinds tend to "float" and may escape the coffee filter and get into the coffee. We buy bottled spring water specifically for making coffee and tea.

2. Periodically the water softener back flushes (cleans) itself with salt water. When it does this it needs to dump the salt water someplace. In most cases this would be piped to the septic or sewer drainage pipes. But that is not always possible (or cost effective) depending on where the drain pipes are and where your water supply comes into your house. Some people just let it dump onto the ground outside the house, but that could kill some kinds of plants. So, be sure to discuss this with the contractor installing the softener.

[vintageogauge]

Water filters remove contamination like Chlorine, which affect the taste and some may potentially be unhealthy.

Water softeners "soften" water. They do not remove calcium, they change it into a different form that won't build up on water fixtures, won't require you to use more soap in the laundry, etc.

Also, there is a "myth" that salt based water softeners can be bad for people on limited sodium diets. This is NOT true. All of the research indicates there is no significant amounts of sodium in the water if the softener is working correctly.

However, a couple con's to salt based water softeners:

1. It is hard to make good coffee or tea with soft water. You can use it, but the coffee/tea flavor will not be extracted as well and you will notice the grinds tend to "float" and may escape the coffee filter and get into the coffee. We buy bottled spring water specifically for making coffee and tea.

2. Periodically the water softener back flushes (cleans) itself with salt water. When it does this it needs to dump the salt water someplace. In most cases this would be piped to the septic or sewer drainage pipes. But that is not always possible (or cost effective) depending on where the drain pipes are and where your water supply comes into your house. Some people just let it dump onto the ground outside the house, but that could kill some kinds of plants. So, be sure to discuss this with the contractor installing the softener.

Water conditioners, which are more expensive than softeners, condition water so that the calcium and magnesium won't build up. Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium with sodium or potassium and flush away the calcium and magnesium when it back flushes. Softeners are the way to go and much less expensive. The complete Nova system with 3 stage whole house filters and the softener system is around $1,600.00. Give them a call and they'll explain it all without giving you a hard sales pitch.

[Martian]

Water conditioners, which are more expensive than softeners, condition water so that the calcium and magnesium won't build up. Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium with sodium or potassium and flush away the calcium and magnesium when it back flushes. Softeners are the way to go and much less expensive. The complete Nova system with 3 stage whole house filters and the softener system is around $1,600.00. Give them a call and they'll explain it all without giving you a hard sales pitch.

Agree, I am using them to put in my system.

[Tom C]

Thank you all for the helpful and positive responses:coolsmiley:. I appreciate the help and detailed information.:mademyday:

[Chatbrat]

I had CPM, put a whole house GE whole house filter and an electronic descaler, so far no problems, no stains . water is A-OK--its been 9 years--I change the filter every 6 months

[CFrance]

We have the Nova systems--whole house filter and water softener. I went with the potassium chloride rather than sodium because my husband didn't care for the slimy feel of the water of our last three water softeners (Michigan and Florida). I have found that while the sodium softeners did not cause any calcium deposit buildup, the potassium system does leave a little. It's not as bad as having no softener, but I wish I had gone with the sodium. We have brushed fixtures (stainless, chrome? Not sure), and I find I have to make sure to dry them off after every use.

I love the taste of the filtered water, however.

[vintageogauge]

We have the Nova systems--whole house filter and water softener. I went with the potassium chloride rather than sodium because my husband didn't care for the slimy feel of the water of our last three water softeners (Michigan and Florida). I have found that while the sodium softeners did not cause any calcium deposit buildup, the potassium system does leave a little. It's not as bad as having no softener, but I wish I had gone with the sodium. We have brushed fixtures (stainless, chrome? Not sure), and I find I have to make sure to dry them off after every use.

I love the taste of the filtered water, however.

We have all bronze fixtures and there is no white buildup at all on them using the potassium for nearly 2 years, we use one bag every 7 or 8 weeks. Maybe there is an adjustment you can make to the unit, give them a call.

[CFrance]

We have all bronze fixtures and there is no white buildup at all on them using the potassium for nearly 2 years, we use one bag every 7 or 8 weeks. Maybe there is an adjustment you can make to the unit, give them a call.
Duh. I thought it was just the difference in crystals. Will call, thanks.

[Bay Kid]

So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?

A simple Nova system will take care of all your water problems. Great system at a very fair price.

[Rollie]

So will the filter alone stop them or do you need the softener also?

We've had a whole house filter system for 8 years and it works great. I feel there is no need for a water softener. The filters are very inexpensive and can be had at any big market hardware store. Very easy to replace. It has reduced mineral deposits by about 90 percent.

Rollie

[EdFNJ]

The water in The Villages is pretty good as compared with other water systems I have used. So, I don't think either a filter or a softener is needed. But, a softener is specifically designed to prevent calcium deposits. I don't understand why someone would want to filter all the water in the house. I also don't like the idea that water is sitting in these systems without circulating all the time. I have a concern that the water could become contaminated. I also know that some people will disagree with everything I said.

Maybe I'm way off here but doesn't water "sit" in your hot water heater" with all the crud buildup in it and only circulate when you use hot water? Not much different from siting in a water filter and cold water is used many times during the day that would flush it especially for FLUSHING! :D but tha's why it is a filter, no? I'd be more concerned getting sprayed by the poopy smelling irrigation water here then water from a filter.

Then you ask WHY? Ask my wife. We moved in here 2 1/2 yrs ago and the day she took her first shower she said the chlorine was going to kill her hair and skin and the water smelled like a swimming pool (slight hyperbole). We put in the whole house filter (how else can you remove chlorine from 2 showers?) and it made a 100% difference and she was happy! Thank heavens for that. :)

As for calcium, we weren't here long enough before putting in the filter to notice any but we have had absolute ZERO traces of calcium in 2 1/2 years including 2 years 3 months having the whole house filter (NO softener). Maybe Amelia has no calcium issues, but either way there is none. Oh, another plug for the Nova system.

[vintageogauge]

Maybe I'm way off here but doesn't water "sit" in your hot water heater" with all the crud buildup in it and only circulate when you use hot water? Not much different from siting in a water filter and cold water is used many times during the day that would flush it especially for FLUSHING! :D but tha's why it is a filter, no? I'd be more concerned getting sprayed by the poopy smelling irrigation water here then water from a filter.

Then you ask WHY? Ask my wife. We moved in here 2 1/2 yrs ago and the day she took her first shower she said the chlorine was going to kill her hair and skin and the water smelled like a swimming pool (slight hyperbole). We put in the whole house filter (how else can you remove chlorine from 2 showers?) and it made a 100% difference and she was happy! Thank heavens for that. :)

As for calcium, we weren't here long enough before putting in the filter to notice any but we have had absolute ZERO traces of calcium in 2 1/2 years including 2 years 3 months having the whole house filter (NO softener). Maybe Amelia has no calcium issues, but either way there is none. Oh, another plug for the Nova system.

I guess it depends on where you live. We live in Fenney and the water definitely left calcium deposits on our fixtures. The Nova filters and softener did the trick, have not used CLR to remove that stuff since the Nova was installed. The on demand hot water system is after the Nova system so the water sitting in there is not building up crud. The irrigation water down here doesn't smell like poop, at least not on our street and I've been sprayed by it many times while adjusting my irrigations heads.

[retiredguy123]

Maybe I'm way off here but doesn't water "sit" in your hot water heater" with all the crud buildup in it and only circulate when you use hot water? Not much different from siting in a water filter and cold water is used many times during the day that would flush it especially for FLUSHING! :D but tha's why it is a filter, no? I'd be more concerned getting sprayed by the poopy smelling irrigation water here then water from a filter.

Then you ask WHY? Ask my wife. We moved in here 2 1/2 yrs ago and the day she took her first shower she said the chlorine was going to kill her hair and skin and the water smelled like a swimming pool (slight hyperbole). We put in the whole house filter (how else can you remove chlorine from 2 showers?) and it made a 100% difference and she was happy! Thank heavens for that. :)

As for calcium, we weren't here long enough before putting in the filter to notice any but we have had absolute ZERO traces of calcium in 2 1/2 years including 2 years 3 months having the whole house filter (NO softener). Maybe Amelia has no calcium issues, but either way there is none. Oh, another plug for the Nova system.
I don't have a problem with water filters and softeners, if you like them. I just think that, for me, the tap water is fine and I have never had a whole house filter or softener. And, The Villages water is pretty good as compared with other tap water systems around the country. But, there have been studies that have shown that the water filter material can harbor bacteria, especially if they are not properly maintained. Just google it. Tap water that you drink should always have a certain amount of chlorine in it to be safe, according the the EPA. With regard to the water heater, I am not as concerned because you don't drink the hot water.

[Tom C]

:mademyday:

From all the kind neighbors that have replied here, my actions are as follows: 1) I will have a 3 filter Nova system installed when they can work me into their schedule. If needed, at sometime in the future, I may look into 2) installing a water softener, but that will be years down the road.

THANK YOU ALL - this is a great forum for sharing knowledge and experiences that saves both time and money (not to mention frustration).

:MOJE_whot::mademyday: