Water quality and steam cylinder service life

The relationship between water hardness and cylinder life is not linear and cannot be calculated. Water hardness, °dH = degrees of German hardness, refers only to the amount of dissolved lime (calcium and ions) in the water. Conductivity is determined by the amount of dissolved salts and metals. The composition of the waters and the ratios of the dissolved substances to each other are very different, so that until today no one can say exactly why electrode humidifiers can work longer with one water than with another, although both have “good drinking water qualities”. The following values were determined by a state water authority through water analyses, whereby the operating hours only refer to the hardness! Dissolved substances such as minerals, salts and metals, as well as electrical conductivity are not taken into account.

A suitable softening system can increase the service life of the cylinders. In ion exchangers, the hardness components (lime) are exchanged for sodium (salt). The softened water then has less lime, but more salts = higher conductivity = higher aggressiveness.

Water with less than 75µS/cm and more than 1500µS/cm are unsuitable for electrode humidifiers!