Water hardness indicates how much calcium and magnesium is dissolved in the water. In Germany, it is measured in degrees of German hardness (°dH) or in millimoles per liter. The higher the value, the more limescale deposits build up in pipes and appliances.
Hardness ranges in Germany
| Hardness range | mmol/l calcium carbonate | °dH |
|---|---|---|
| soft | below 1.5 | below 8.4 |
| medium | 1.5 to 2.5 | 8.4 to 14 |
| hard | above 2.5 | above 14 |
This classification comes from the Detergents and Cleaning Agents Act. One degree of German hardness corresponds to approximately 0.18 mmol/l.
How to find out your water hardness
- Check with your water supplier: Most municipal utilities publish water hardness and a current drinking water analysis on their website. Entering your postal code is often enough.
- Measure with test strips: Test strips from drugstores or hardware stores show the hardness within seconds. This is practical if you want to check the value at your own tap.
- Look for signs: White deposits on fittings, a calcified kettle, or spots on glasses indicate hard water.
What hard water means in everyday life
Limescale is harmless to health but causes effort and costs. It builds up in washing machines, boilers, coffee machines, and pipes, and can shorten their lifespan. Additionally, you need more detergent and cleaning agents, and coffee or tea often taste less aromatic.
Which solution helps?
- For the whole house: A water softening system like the SOFT X ONE or the SOFT X PRO models is installed behind the water meter. It protects all pipes and appliances from limescale. Installation should be carried out by a specialist company.
- For drinking water in the kitchen: A reverse osmosis system removes limescale as well as a large proportion of other dissolved substances. Read more about this in the article “Reverse osmosis system or jug filter – which one is right for me?”.
Do you know your water hardness and want to know which system is suitable? Email us the value at info@eliteaqua.de; we would be happy to advise you.
