Frequently asked questions about limescale protection

The optimum device is determined depending on the size of your property. Click here for an overview of our products.

No, our limescale protection devices are completely service and maintenance-free.

The ENK-Quattro Power product line has the following dimensions (LxWxH): 290 x 145 x 55 mm

With Tratson’s limescale protection devices, you have effective limescale protection that keeps the healthy minerals in the water without the many disadvantages and expense of conventional salt-based descaling systems.
It protects the environment and is also inexpensive to purchase and completely maintenance-free.

Tratson is the only company with a scientific dissertation submitted to ETH-Zurich documenting the effectiveness of our proprietary technology

Yes, whether plastic, chrome steel, stainless steel, copper or galvanized iron pipes.
Tratson works on all pipe materials and provides comprehensive limescale protection.

Yes.
70% of our customers in the single-family home sector install the device themselves.
We are happy to prepare a free installation proposal in advance.
If required, we will be happy to organize a regional specialist partner to install the appliance for you at a fixed price.

Yes, especially in the first six months after commissioning, increased residues of the younger or weaker crystal layers can be observed, which can occasionally accumulate in the screens of the taps.
This process then stabilizes and takes about the same amount of time to completely break down as the original time required to build up the incrustations.

Yes, the cleaning effort is significantly reduced, as there is less to clean and the time required for the rest is also further reduced.

As the limescale sticks much less and can simply be wiped away with a damp cloth or sponge, the use of aggressive cleaning agents is significantly reduced.

Less detergent is also needed for the washing machine.

No, on the contrary.
Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the body and is needed in large quantities for bones, teeth and the nervous system.
The easiest and best way to absorb calcium is through the consumption of mineral-rich water.

Unfortunately, many descaling systems are still being used in Switzerland.
This is bad for the environment and for health.

A classic descaling system is more exciting in terms of business economics, as it generates a lot of follow-up income (similar to coffee machines with capsules or printer cartridges).
The follow-up revenues are salt sales, service and maintenance contracts or the replacement of resin.

In California, for example, descaling systems have been banned due to their incompatibility with the environment.

More on this in the next paragraph on frequently asked questions about descaling appliances.

The term “hard” water or “water hardness” refers to the mineral content in the water.
In Switzerland, water hardness is most commonly expressed in °fH (degrees of French hardness).
Water is divided into the following 6 groups:

• 0 – 7 °fH = very soft
• 7 – 15 °fH = soft
• 15 – 25 °fH = medium hard
• 25 – 32 °fH = quite hard
• 32 – 42 °fH = hard
• 42 – °fH = very hard

In principle, limescale is rarely or never a problem for health.
In specialist literature, the optimum value for domestic installations is said to be between 10 – 15 °fH.
However, it should be noted that even at these values, the first limescale deposits occur.
As a limescale protection device has no negative consequences, it makes sense to install a limescale protection device to protect your property even at low values.
Limescale only becomes an effective problem for domestic installations from a hardness level of approx. 30°fH.

Water with a harmonious taste has high levels of calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate and contains comparatively small amounts of sodium and chloride.
A lot of sodium in water, especially in combination with chloride, creates a salty taste.

Wherever water evaporates, the minerals remain visible.
Warm surfaces or heated water also encourage evaporation.

After the water has been treated with a limescale protection device, it is comparatively easy to remove these mineral residues.
Similar to white chalk on a blackboard, the residue can be easily removed with a damp sponge or cloth.

There is no difference between the terms “decalcification system“, “softening system” or “ion exchanger”.
They all refer to the chemical process using salt or sodium to replace the calcium in the water.

Sodium ions stored in the salt are made available via a chemical resin bed to exchange with the calcium ions in the drinking water.
To ensure that the limit value for sodium in drinking water (200 mg/l) is not exceeded, this sodium-enriched water must be mixed again with untreated water.

The daily regeneration process with fresh water ensures that the calcium ions now stored in the resin bed are replaced by fresh sodium ions.

As we nowadays consume too much salt = sodium chloride through our food, doctors generally recommend a low-sodium diet.
The chronic oversupply of sodium is a risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
The WHO (World Health Organization) therefore recommends a maximum salt consumption of 5 g per person per day (around 1 teaspoon) – this corresponds to 2 g of sodium.

A decalcification system adds more sodium to the drinking water that we consume and need for cooking.
The Drinking Water Ordinance sets the limit value for sodium at 200 mg per liter.
This value is used for adults.
However, doctors recommend not exceeding a limit of 20 mg per liter for small children, adolescents up to the age of 18 and older adults over the age of 60.
This is because the internal organs of the first group are not fully developed and the performance of the latter slowly declines, which is why water from decalcification plants is absolutely unsuitable for the preparation of infant formula.
It is also often completely ignored that drinking water already contains a lot of sodium, depending on the region.

Descaling systems are collection points for viruses and bacteria of all kinds, which find their way into the drinking water and contaminate it.
This is why an annual, expensive service and maintenance of the descaling system is necessary to ensure that the drinking water is not contaminated by pathogens.

Apart from the health disadvantages, sodium also changes the usual taste of water, especially when it combines with chloride in the water, creating an unappetizing salty taste.

Yes.
In Switzerland alone, 40,000,000 kilograms of salt find their way into the water every year through decalcification plants.
The regeneration process produces sodium and chloride.
The chlorides end up directly in the wastewater.
During wastewater treatment, the chloride remains in the treated water.
This can enter the groundwater via rivers and streams.
Groundwater contamination by chlorides is very persistent.
Analyses of the Rhine at Rekingen show that chloride levels have risen by a factor of three over the past 50 years.
The rapid rise in chloride levels also has an impact on the balance of ecosystems in bodies of water and damages agriculture.
Due to the negative effects of excessive chloride levels in wastewater, decalcification plants have been completely banned in parts of the US and have had to be uninstalled.

Salt is sodium chloride.
When dissolved in water, the sodium ion is used to replace the calcium ion in drinking water.

Yes, especially if the limit value of 200 mg/l of sodium in drinking water is disregarded, there is an increased risk of rust forming in the water pipes.

Descaling systems are primarily recommended by plumbing companies because descaling systems require pipes to be opened and this work may only be carried out by a certified plumber.
The necessary annual service and maintenance work is a lucrative business that guarantees the plumber a secure income.

Yes, due to the negative effects on the balance of ecosystems in water bodies and the damage to agriculture, decalcification plants were completely banned in parts of the U.S. and had to be uninstalled again.

Added to this is the fact that a detached house consumes around 6,000 liters of drinking water per year for the regeneration process of the descaling system.
Summers in Switzerland are also getting drier and hotter.
A rethink is urgently needed, because we can no longer afford to be careless with our drinking water.