Sooner or later a faucet in almost every household becomes calcified. The flow decreases and the jet sprays uncontrollably in all directions. Visually, the rooster looks increasingly unappetizing. Thorough descaling is relatively easy to do and you can do it yourself with little effort. Vinegar dissolves limescale and condoms, balloons or bags save the effort of dismantling.
Thorough descaling is relatively easy to do and you can do it yourself with little effort. Vinegar dissolves limescale and condoms, balloons or bags save the effort of dismantling.
They wrap the rooster's head in a bunch of vinegar and wait for the vinegar to dissolve the lime.
The decisive trick when descaling is the longer exposure of vinegar to limescale. Putting on a spherical bag is helpful so that the faucet does not have to be dismantled. A condom, a balloon or a small plastic bag can be used as a “container”. A rubber, fixed to the shaft, serves as a holder.
Materials and tools required
“aspirin” or “vinegar” or “vinegar essence”, “water”
“condom” or “balloon” or “small plastic bag, rubber
1. Prepare the balloon
"Video:"youtube 0:30
The "sack" is filled with a mixture of water and lime-dissolving agent to a level of about two centimetres. Vinegar to water in a one to one ratio, vinegar to water in a one to four ratio, or an aspirin tablet. A condom and a small plastic bag always fit, a balloon must be chosen appropriately.
2. Pull the balloon over the tap
"Video:"youtube 0:40
Explanation What is done
The "sack" is pulled over the tap outlet, also known as the aerator, so that the openings are all immersed in the solvent mixture. Depending on the shape of the balloon, condom or bag, the rubber is stretched around the shaft once or several times to hold the bag opening on the water tap.
3. Answers and tips about descaling
The balloon does not fit over the faucet
A condom is sufficiently stretchy and can often even be stretched over the tap without a rubber band. A bag must be fixed with several folds and rubber coils. The balloon needs a sufficient size, which is usually given from medium-sized balloons.
The aerator can be unscrewed
If the faucet is heavily calcified, a first pass can loosen the screw attachment on the outlet so that it can be turned off. A subsequent bath in vinegar water increases the effectiveness of the descaling. In this way, any existing adjustment functions on the aerator, such as jet regulation, can be restored to their optimal state.
Exposure time at least twelve hours
Aspirin and vinegar need sufficient reaction time to dissolve limescale. Thick encrustations can be partially removed in advance with a spread of toothpaste and a rough brushing after about an hour.
Be careful with plastic components
Some faucets have plastic components that are sensitive to vinegar. The less aggressive citric acid serves as an alternative, but it requires at least twice the exposure time. Chrome and copper also do not tolerate vinegar and should only be brought into contact with citric acid. Aspirin needs hot water to be effective.
Is there a video too?
A special attachment explains the principle with which condoms, balloons and plastic bags work.
"Video:"youtube
&ab_channel=Descale faucet
The professional alternative
"amazon:" faucet descaler | [B013GVJODI]
The descaler tool simplifies attachment to the crane, aerator, shaft or faucet. The elastic material can be stretched up to five centimeters and also fits larger aerators and water taps. The attachments cost less than ten euros and can be reused almost indefinitely.
If you don't have the skill, desire or time to descale yourself, you can hire a professional. A big advantage are the very quickly reactive agents that sanitation professionals use. They accelerate descaling and often reduce the time required to just a few hours. Of course, the specialist company has its price. Interesting side effect: The professional can often make suggestions as to how the general lime content in the household with hard water can be reduced centrally. Then there will be no need to decalcify the taps in the future and fittings and tiles will be much better protected from the white streaks.
SR