Electric water descalers to reduce hard water residue

Help your appliances last longer with an electric water descaler that'll shift the limescale.

Tap with limescale

by Eleanor Weaver |
Updated on

Prevent limescale build-up, thereby extending the lifespan of appliances, with an electric water descaler. If like 60 per cent of the UK, you live in a hard water area, you’ll understand the frustrations that come from having water loaded with calcium and magnesium minerals.

Having hard water can affect the water pressure in your home, shorten the lifespan of your home appliances, and interfere with most cleaning tasks. It also means resorting to chemical solutions, such as kettle descalers, to shift the scale build-up.

Best electric water descalers at a glance:

Best electric water descaler overall: Eddy Electronic Water Descaler – View on Amazon UK
Best electric water descaler for large homes: Little Plumber LP2 Water Softener and Electronic Descaler – View on Amazon UK
Best compact electric water descaler: BWT LIFF LW2 Wrappa Electronic Scale Inhibitor – View on Amazon UK

It can leave mineral stains on clothing from the washing machine, causing quicker wear and tear, and can weaken the effectiveness of detergents and soaps, resulting in soap curd deposits on surfaces, your skin, and crockery coming out of the dishwasher. If you’ve ever seen the white spots on your glassware, you’ll know the struggle.

To fight the limescale, we've listed the best electric water descalers to buy and explained exactly how they can help. Scroll to the FAQ section below for detailed information about electric water descalers.

Best electric water descalers

Best electric water descaler overall

Eddy Electronic Water DescalerAmazon/Eddy

Successfully used in homes and businesses across the world for over 20 years, the Eddy Electronic Water Descaler can be trusted to be highly economical and easy for anyone to fit. It's effective on most types of water pipe and is one of the only electric descalers that come with a risk-free guarantee. It will fit pipes up to 22mm diameter, but if your pipes are larger, the descaler can be altered with the Eddy Extended Cable Set. It's a top recommendation for all hard water homes.

Customer review: "We have terrible problems with scale - it is very visible in the kettle, on the shower screen, and in the bath. We read up about this unit and were rather sceptical but purchased it on the basis it had a money-back guarantee. It is easy to install - it just needs patience but be aware you do need an adjacent plug socket.

"We’ve now had it for a month and I feel it is worthy of a review. Within a few days, it was very apparent that the kettle did not scale anything like it used to and within a week the shower screen and bath were noticeably better as they no longer have that ‘rough’ feel of scale to them when you come to clean them. We are still impressed a month on and would fully recommend."

Pros

  • 12-month money-back guarantee and a lifetime repair or replace guarantee
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Customer comments that it didn't work for them

Best electric water descaler for large homes

Little Plumber LP2 Water Softener and Electronic DescalerAmazon/Little Plumber

The LP2, Little Plumber's larger of their two domestic units, is ideal for large houses with five or more bedrooms due to its stronger output. Easy to install, simply wrap both coils around your copper or plastic cold water pipe and plug them into a three-pin electrical socket. It'll provide total household protection from mineral build-up and help to prolong the life of your household appliances, saving you money in the long run.

Customer eview: "We live in a hard water area and have to replace the electric shower every 2 years. Thought we would try this as the shower needed to be replaced. Within 2 weeks the LP2 has paid for itself as we have not needed to replace the shower, which is now nearly limescale free. We have also noticed that the dishwasher and washing machine programmes are faster and the sinks and bath are much cleaner.

"Easy to fit if you know what you’re doing - perhaps the negative reviews are because the LP hasn’t been fitted correctly? Would 100 per cent recommend."

Pros

  • 100 per cent money-back guarantee
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • It's called a water softener and electronic descaler, but only really works as the latter

Best compact electric water descaler

BWT LIFF LW2 Wrappa Electronic Scale InhibitorAmazon/BWT

We love the compact design of this electrical water descaler and the fact it looks more discreet, much like other electrical devices in the home. Designed to fit pipes from 15mm to 35mm, it requires no maintenance and costs less than £5 a year to run making it a fantastic money-saving device that'll also help keep your heating bills under control. Unrivalled in style, performance, and efficiency, it'll provide the results you need.

Customer review: "Two months on, the showerhead is still clear, although there are deposits in the kettle they do not stick and rinse away. Everything else is easier to clean and less washing up liquid, soap, shampoo, etc is needed.

"Coming from an electronic background I could not bring myself to accept that these devices work. Well, I've fitted one and yes there is a noticeable difference in the water. Less soap and shampoo are needed, watermarks no longer need scrubbing to remove. I descaled the showerhead and kettle before fitting and so far they are still clear. I will update later if any changes."

Pros

  • Zero maintenance
  • Neat, compact design
  • Cost-effective

Cons

  • No guarantee included

Best electric water descaler for easy installation

ScaleWatcher 2 Star Electronic Water Conditioner and Scale InhibitorAmazon/ScaleWatcher

The ScaleWatcher 2 Star will condition the water in your home to stop limescale building up and will dissolve any existing limescale leaving your system clean and running efficiently. Whilst most electric descalers are easy to install, this one has been praised for having clear, easy-to-follow instructions with all the components needed in the one box ready to go.

Customer review: "This really works, and the lack of limescale build-up is remarkable. I bought this for my four bedroom house, but they also have ones for smaller dwellings. I had one before, and wish I'd remembered to take it out of my last home and bring it with me. The water here is very hard, and so limescale deposit build-up is a problem around taps, stainless steel sink, kettle, and the shower glass and tray. It made sense to buy another one. It's worth visiting their website and looking up the lab testing report on this product.

"One of my best purchases and would definitely recommend!"

Pros

  • Money back guarantee and ten year warranty
  • Low running cost
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Some customers comment that it did not work for them

Best electric water descaler for versatile fitting

ScaleWizardAmazon/ScaleWizard

Suitable for all types of pipework including copper, steel, and plastic, the ScaleWizard will work its magic to reduce scale build-up on taps, basins, showers, and appliances, and prevent future build-ups in your pipes and boilers. It won't provide quick results, but will work as a long-term solution with reviewers finding it was still working after five to 20 plus years!

Customer review: "I purchased one of these after seeing what a number of years use of the original 'ScaleWatcher' has done in my parents home. As a primary school child (1985/6) I remember the hot water cylinder being replaced due to being full of scale - we had fun chipping the scale away before weighing the copper in for scrap. At some point in the early nineties they ordered and fitted a ScaleWatcher. Fast forward 20+ years, the tank was replaced for a larger one. The inside of the tank looked practically new! I could describe it as thin even dusting of scale on the inside. I must confess to having been a sceptic when this was originally fitted, but after seeing first hand what it can do am a convert.; hence the decision to purchase similar technology for use in our home."

Pros

  • Cost-effective
  • Three month warranty
  • Easy to install

Cons

  • Customer comments that it made no difference

Best electric water descaler and softener

Water-King Electronic Water Softener & DescalerAmazon/Water-King

Scale down calcium build-up with the Water-King Electronic Water Softener & Descaler. Not only does it inhibit the formation of limescale and efficiently remove existing scale, but it also softens hot water. With a life span of 25 years, it requires no plumbing, no maintenance and absolutely no salt. Plus, there's a no-quibble, 100-day money-back guarantee. Suitable for pipes up to 28mm, it's the ultimate solution for water quality maintenance.

Customer review: "Easy installation, noticed water quality change 3-4hrs later and slowly seeing less limescale on taps, sinks etc 2wks onwards."

Pros

  • 100 day money-back guarantee
  • No plumbing in required
  • Descales and softens

Cons

  • Not many reviews

Best for compatibility with a range of pipes

Moosec Electronic Water DescalerAmazon/Moosec
Price: $79.99

Why get a water descaler? Water with calcium and magnesium forms limescale in pipes, impacting water quality and health. Moosec Water Descaler tackles this issue by using electrical pulses to change the calcium carbonate structure, preventing scale build-up. It safeguards against blockages, damage, high costs, rust and bacterial growth. Plus, installation is easy, allowing for flexible placement and effective scale prevention across pipes.

Customer review: "Instructions were okay. It can be installed very easily. It protects our devices from deterioration caused by sand, dust, dirt and sediment. And also protects against blockage and deterioration caused by limescale. Maybe it will remove previously formed limes in time, we will see it in the future. No more need for chemicals, salts and filters to provide a healthy water. For now, works well."

Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Compatible with all types of pipe
  • Effective

Cons

  • In the event of a power cut it needs manually switching back on

FAQs

What does an electronic water descaler do?

Also known as a water conditioner, an electronic water descaler is an eco-friendly, high-tech device that uses a low voltage current to create a magnetic field that’ll charge the minerals in the water. This charge manipulates the way the minerals behave, causing them to stay in the water rather than build up in your appliances.

This helps to reduce the impact of hard water on your appliances and helps to prevent a future build-up of scale deposits from the minerals. It's important to regularly descale your kettle and shower as well as other appliances.

Do electronic water descalers really work?

Yes, and as well as being easy to install, reasonably affordable and requiring little maintenance, an electronic water descaler can help to alleviate the potential effects of hard water on your health. This includes dry skin and hair, especially if you're prone to eczema.

However, you should be aware that a water descaler won’t soften your water, simply prevents the effects of hard water. If you’re looking for something to treat your hard water and completely remove the effect, it’d be best to use a water softener instead.

Washing machine with mineral build-up
©Getty Images

What if I have lead pipes?

If you have lead pipes, it is not recommended to install a water descaler. The limescale being removed from the inside of the pipe may lead your water to be exposed to lead. According to the Lead Exposure and Poisoning Prevention Alliance, the same could be true of other descaling solutions and also copper pipes soldered with lead and brass fittings containing lead.

Electric water descaler vs. water softener

If you live in a very hard water area and want to eliminate the hardness in your water, you may want to consider a water softener instead. A water softener uses an ion exchange to actually remove the minerals that create hard water, replacing calcium and magnesium with salt.

Water softeners

Pros

A water softener will eliminate the hardness in your water and reduce your grains per gallon (GPG) count to zero.

Will effectively remove the impact and effects of hard water on your skin, clothing, and hair.

Cons

Water softeners are much more expensive with extra costs attached e.g. salt.

They require higher maintenance.

Take up a significant amount of space to install.

Less eco-friendly - water softeners replace healthy minerals like magnesium and calcium with unhealthy minerals like sodium.

Electric water descaler

Pros

Chemical-free, zero-salt water treatment.

Much more affordable in comparison to salt-based softeners, with no costs attached.

Requires minimal space to install, and minimal maintenance.

Retains healthy calcium and magnesium minerals.

Cons

Less effective than a salt-based softener so not all hard water impacts on skin, hair, and clothing will be eliminated.

Less scientific evidence to prove how well it works.

Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Yours, specialising in home décor, furnishings and appliances. Having worked commercially on Yours magazine and Yours.co.uk for the past six years, she's previously hosted Yours Live events and loves looking for home inspiration online.

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