How Much Is Scale Really Costing You? A 20-Year Water Heater Study

The U.S. Department of Energy did the math. They ran a simulation of 20 years of water heater use under hard water conditions — with an accumulation of 27 kg of scale. For a gas heater: about a 5% drop in efficiency. For an electric heater: heating element failures.

5% sounds small. But that’s every year, for every unit, throughout the equipment’s lifetime.

What This Means in Money

A water heater in a building with 20 apartments consumes on average several thousand shekels a year. 5% less efficiency = hundreds of shekels wasted annually. Multiply by 10 years — and you get a figure that justifies any reasonable solution.

According to the WHO, scale also clogs pipes, shortens appliance lifespan, and increases maintenance costs. The UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) notes that scaling of heating elements shortens equipment life and reduces efficiency.

A Note on Numbers You’ll Find Online

You’ll find articles citing a 25%–40% drop in efficiency. Almost all come from industrial sources. 5% is the figure measured in the DOE study — the most specific number from a verified governmental source.

The Solution That Splits the Cost

A central system for the building costs less than what each resident pays individually. 85% reduction in scale. Less than 50 ₪ per apartment per month (depending on building size). Maintenance twice a year, by Mei-Ad.

📞 Nir Ben Zvi — 052-6124600

Sources: U.S. DOE OSTI Study #6457988 | WHO Background Document on Hardness | UK Drinking Water Inspectorate

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