Extreme limescale in shower bar

[Ibs90]

I’m dealing with a frustrating plumbing issue due to what I believe is extremely hard water. I live in a semi-detached house with two bathrooms, both of which use mixer showers connected to a hot water tank.

The issue:

After every single shower, the shower bar gets completely blocked. Very little water is released. I’ve isolated the problem to a small filter mesh inside the shower bar, which gets clogged up with limescale almost immediately after a single use.

What I have to do:​

• Turn off the mains water supply
• Open up the shower bar
• Remove the limescale build-up on the tiny filter
• Reassemble everything

This is now happening after every shower in both bathrooms, making it almost unusable. The limescale build-up is that fast and heavy. I’m currently considering a shower filter or water softener, but I’m not sure if that’s a band-aid or the right long-term fix.

Setup summary:​

• House type: Semi-detached
• Showers: 2 (both mixer type)
• Hot water tank (not combi boiler)
• Hard water area (confirmed)
• Limescale builds inside the shower bar, not just on the shower head

What I need help with:​

• Is this a known/common issue in very hard water areas?
• Would a whole-house softener actually stop the issue at the root?
• Are there any specific inline filters that would help before the limescale hits the shower bar?
• Could this be a sign of a bigger problem (like excessive mineral load from the hot tank)?

Any advice or suggestions would be hugely appreciated — I’m having to take apart my plumbing almost daily just to have a working shower.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Elsa TLC]

What part of the country are you living in?

 

[Ibs90]

I am from the United Kingdom, Leicester.
I have been living in this property for 5 years but only recently it has become so bad.

 

[Murdochcat]

A water softener will help going forwards but how long it would take to remove existing limescale from inside the shower heads is another question.

Can you take the shower heads off?

If so put in a suitable container with water and a lot of vinegar

 

[Ibs90]

I don't think the issue is with the shower heads. I think it is the shower bar. I have to unscrew the shower bar constantly and remove the limescale from that, which fixes it temporarily.

 

[Ibs90]

I forgot to mention an important point. This only ever affects my hot water.

 

[Razor900]

It's the cylinder that needs cleaning out by the sounds of it

 

[Ibs90]

It's the cylinder that needs cleaning out by the sounds of it

Thanks, cyclinder meaning?

 

[terryplumb]

Thanks, cyclinder meaning?

Hot water storage cylinder.
What type is yours ,is it fed from a cold water tank or is it unvented ( fed with mains cold water)?

 

[flameport]

which gets clogged up with limescale almost immediately after a single use.

Are you sure it's limescale and not small fragments of white plastic?

 

[pete01]

It's the cylinder that needs cleaning out by the sounds of it

OMG I had to look at that avatar for a while....LOL...

 

[terryplumb]

OMG I had to look at that avatar for a while....LOL...

 

[Ibs90]

Hot water storage cylinder.
What type is yours ,is it fed from a cold water tank or is it unvented ( fed with mains cold water)?

How can I confirm this?

 

[Ibs90]

Are you sure it's limescale and not small fragments of white plastic?

I am pretty sure it's limescale. Do you have a picture of what you mean by white plastic?

 

[Scally-Ho]

If its blocking in the shower head bar, then remove that troublesome microfilter and replace with an open rubber washer to seal with the hose. That way any micro debris will pass straight through the shower rose. It won't eliminate the fine scale debris, but it will allow a shower to be taken

https://www.screwfix.com/p/arctic-hayes-shower-hose-washers-1-2-5-pack/3841j