The first saving lies in a longer life for your central heating boiler, heat pump, washing machine, dishwasher, boiling-water tap, steam oven, coffee maker, ironing machine, jacuzzi and every other appliance in which water is heated. How much you save depends on the replacement value of the appliance — this is especially relevant for built-in appliances, where limescale damages the internal parts.
The second saving lies in your energy use: 1 mm of limescale on a heating element can cost up to 10% extra energy. With a kettle it's easiest to see: the more limescale there is on the heating element, the longer it takes for the water to heat up — which is why you descale a kettle with vinegar or another acid. Exactly the same happens in other appliances with heating elements, such as central heating boilers, washing machines, coffee makers and espresso machines, only you can't see it and they are rarely descaled. Limescale conducts heat much worse than metal and therefore acts like a layer of insulation: the heating element has to stay hot for longer to achieve the same result.
As soon as limescale can no longer form on the heating elements, your appliances work more efficiently and use less energy. With high-efficiency boilers it's also good to keep the three-way valve, heat exchanger and condenser clean — they affect how your whole central heating system works.
You also save on cleaning products: limescale in the water reduces the effectiveness of soap, so with soft water you need half as much laundry and dishwasher detergent. In practice, one tablespoon of detergent is enough for a full washing machine, and you no longer need salt in the dishwasher. You also use less shampoo and cleaning products.
Many people also find soft water more pleasant for their skin and hair.
And you notice it in your cup. An espresso consists largely of water, so that water helps determine how your coffee tastes. Limescale builds up in your coffee machine and makes your coffee and tea taste flatter. With ZeNO you set how much hardness you keep yourself, for example 2 or 4 °dH: enough minerals for a full flavour, without limescale in your appliance.
Finally, you save on work around the house: less scrubbing, most visibly in the bathroom, but also when cleaning windows or solar panels — water that dries no longer leaves streaks or marks. You'll notice the difference when washing the car, too.
Curious how ZeNO works? View ZeNO.