WaterWorks™ Total Hardness (Tests Calcium & Magnesium Hardness from 0-1000ppm) (NCW-480008)

This simple colour test strip, from our WaterWorks™ brand, allows for quick and accurate testing of Total Hardness of water, as calcium carbonate.

It is a simple dip and read test strip with a precise colour chart on the back of the bottle and the results are shown within 3 seconds. This wide range test strip can be used to test water in homes with lab quality and of course the results are ideal for most applications. One of our most popular tests.

No other reagents or accessories are needed. We use trace amounts of chemicals on our strips which makes them extremely safe and non-hazardous. They are considered as Articles under OSHA and do not require SDS sheets.

How to Use:

1. Dip one strip into a water sample for 3 seconds.
2. Remove and immediately match to the colour chart. Complete colour matching within 1 minute.

Understanding your Results:

• Hardness greater than 80ppm: Detergents with softening agents are not completely effective in cleaning
• Hardness greater than 120ppm: Some scaling will occur in pipes and appliances
• Hardness greater than 250ppm: Dishwasher impossible to use without producing film on dishes

PROTECT YOUR APPLIANCES, SKIN AND HAIR

About 60% of the UK is classed as having hard or very hard water, with many areas exhibiting over 200 ppm. This causes:

• Clogged pipes & scaling
• Mineral deposits on glassware & dishes
  
• Dry skin, hair & dingy laundry
• Shorter lifespan of water-using devices
• Higher energy bills

Why test for Total Hardness?

Hardness can pose a potential problem if it is too low or too high. If the water hardness is too low, such as < 50 mg/L, the water may be corrosive to metal piping, fixtures, and appliances. If the hardness is high, it is possible for the multivalent cations to react with the carbonates in the water to produce chemical precipitates or "soap scum".

The amount of hardness minerals in water affects the amount of soap and detergent necessary for cleaning. Soap used in hard water combines with the minerals to form a sticky soap curd. Some synthetic detergents are less effective in hard water because the active ingredient is partially inactivated by hardness, even though it stays dissolved. Bathing with soap in hard water can leave a film on the skin that may prevent or inhibit the removal of "dirt", dead skin cells, oils, and bacteria. This film can also prevent the skin from returning to a more typical slightly acidic condition, i.e., pH 4 to about 6.5, and therefore result in irritation or possibly eczema. This film can also make hair look dull, lifeless, difficult to manage, and even make it feel dirty.

When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabric stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes graying of white fabric and the loss of brightness in colors. Because of incomplete cleaning, the clothes may get a sour odor and continuous laundering in hard water can shorten the life of clothes. The soap curds can deposit on dishes, bathtubs and showers, and all water fixtures, contributing to nuisances.

Buy with confidence

• Each ITS test strip is manufactured in an environmentally controlled facility with extensive testing throughout the production process to ensure product integrity and accuracy.