FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

Is a descaling system worthwhile for your home?

Incl. test strips for measuring water hardness (if it makes sense).

Hard water can lead to limescale deposits, increased cleaning effort and unnecessary follow-up costs. With our short, free initial assessment, we clarify whether and which descaling solution makes sense for you - by telephone or on request on site.

Save up to CHF 1,500 per year

With water softening, you reduce the consumption of cleaning agents and avoid limescale deposits in pipes and appliances - this reduces maintenance and repair costs. At the same time, hot water installations such as boilers, heat exchangers and fittings need to be descaled less frequently and water heating requires less energy thanks to less limescale (3 mm limescale = approx. 20 % more effort).

This is how it works
4 clear steps to a recommendation

Product finder

1. fill out product finder / request

You enter the property, region and your reason (we already have the form - we use it to read out the first important data).

Free initial consultation

2. free initial consultation / preliminary assessment

We check your details and assess whether a descaling system makes sense for you. Then: brief consultation by phone or on site if required.

Test strips included

3. test strips included (if it fits)

If the initial situation is correct, we will send you a test strip so that you can easily measure the water hardness.

Recommendation

4. recommendation & next step

You receive a clear recommendation. If appropriate: quotation, specific product proposal, installation options.

We are happy to advise you

Category

Go (fits) ✅

No-go (does not fit) 🚫

Property / Object

You are an owner (EFH / MFH / condominium)

You are a tenant and do not want to evaluate anything without consulting the management/owner

Intention

You would like to test or purchase a descaling system

You just want a free test strip (without the intention to buy/consult)

Need / Problem

You see concrete signs: Traces of limescale, high cleaning effort, appliance protection, cost/benefit issue

You have no need at all and do not want a recommendation/advice

Aim of the request

You would like a clear recommendation (incl. offer/product proposal, if appropriate)

You only want a single question, e.g. „How do I set my coffee machine to hard water?“

Relevance Decalcification

You want an integrated solution for your household/property (wiring, appliances, convenience)

It only concerns a single appliance (e.g. coffee machine/filter jug) instead of a descaling solution

Region / Shipping

Residence or property in Switzerland (shipping possible)

Resident outside Switzerland and no property in Switzerland (shipping condition)

Click on the image to enlarge it:

Request free advice here

*This needs analysis page is aimed at people, administrations and industrial companies who would like to test a descaling solution, are looking to replace an existing descaling system or are dissatisfied with their current solution. Without this prior information and a specific interest, we are unfortunately unable to offer free advice or preliminary test strips.

Personal contact

Tobias Schweizer - Frei AquaService sales consultant for Northwestern Switzerland, specializing in consulting and sales of water treatment solutions.

Tobias Schweizer

Sales Consultant Northwestern Switzerland

Roger Di Pierno - Frei AquaService sales consultant for the Zurich and Eastern Switzerland regions, expert in water softening and on-site customer solutions.

Roger Di Pierno

Sales Consultant Zurich/Eastern Switzerland

Philipp Bieri - Frei AquaService sales consultant for the regions of Bern and French-speaking Switzerland, specializing in individual solutions for water softening.

Philipp Bieri

Sales Consultant Berne/Romandie

Frei AquaService AG

Fawa® product finder for descaling systems

Answer a few short questions - we will show you a suitable Fawa® solution as a non-binding recommendation based on your information.

This selection controls the basic line: Fawa® Soft for households, Fawa® Top for buildings and businesses.

Private household: Persons. Apartment building: residential units. Commercial: Occupants as a guide.

No idea? No problem - Order free water test strips .

If so, depending on the load, we recommend Fawa® Pendulum or Fawa® Parallel (multi-column systems with individual design).

Optional guide value in m³ per year. Helps to make the design even more precise in discussions.

The recommendation serves as a guide and does not replace a detailed on-site design.

Easy to use

Dip the test strip briefly into the water and compare the result with the scale.

Individual advice

Based on your results, we recommend customized solutions for soft water.

Protection for your home

Less limescale means a longer service life for your appliances, less cleaning effort and more efficient energy consumption.

Why water hardness is important

Water is everywhere. When cooking, showering, washing - and quietly in the background in boilers and heating systems. How hard your water is also determines what remains invisible in the system and what settles as limescale. You often only notice it when the coffee machine starts acting up or the aerator is covered in white again. And then you ask yourself: Is it really necessary?

The short answer: not necessarily. If you know your water hardness, you can act much more pragmatically - and also more cost-efficiently. Dose cleaning agents correctly instead of "on the off chance". Protect appliances as a precaution instead of decalcifying or replacing them later at great expense.

In short: water hardness is not a minor matter. It influences comfort, the value retention of your building technology and energy consumption every day.

  • Device protection: Less limescale = longer service life for boilers, coffee machines, washing machines, etc.

  • Energy efficiency: Descaled systems heat more efficiently - which is good for the budget and the environment.

  • Comfort & care: Fewer stains, less cleaning effort, noticeably more pleasant water.

Planned maintenance & environmental protection: If you know your water hardness, you can dose cleaning agents and detergents correctly and prevent over- or under-care. At the same time, the use of aggressive cleaning agents is considerably reduced - limescale can only be removed with strong chemicals, and their consumption is significantly reduced. This protects surfaces and prevents unnecessary amounts of cleaning agents from entering the waste water.

Understanding water hardness - what do the values mean?

In Switzerland, water hardness is usually measured in French degrees of hardness (°fH) usual. For orientation:

Soft

Soft

up to approx. 15 °fH (≈ up to 8-9 °dH)

medium hard

Medium hard

approx. 15-25 °fH (≈ 8-14 °dH)

Hard

Hard

from approx. 25 °fH (≈ from 14 °dH)

Conversion (standard values): 1 °dH ≈ 1.78 °fH - 1 °fH ≈ 0.56 °dH

Our recommendation - based on your result

One Efficient limescale protection by means of a softening system (ion exchange), for example, we recommend from a water hardness of approx. 20 °fH. From this water hardness, regular boiler maintenance is also advisable as additional protection for your boiler/heating system.

Good to know: We plan systems demand-oriented - to suit the number of people, consumption, available space and existing installation (single-family home, multi-family home, commercial).

Your benefits with Frei AquaService

Swiss quality & service

Own service centers, short distances, fast response times.

Many years of experience

Over 30 years in the treatment, protection and maintenance of softening, demineralization and line protection for water-bearing systems.

Holistic thinking

Advice, installation, maintenance - all from a single source.

Transparency

Clear recommendations, no sales phrases. What you need - no more, no less.

This is how it goes on - from test strip to solution

1. order test strips - free of charge* for addresses in Switzerland.

2. measure value - with instructions in just a few seconds.

3. upload or communicate the result - by form/telephone.

4. individual advice - We recommend the right solution and show you the investment and operating costs.

5. if required: on-site check - Checking the installation, space requirements, connection options.

Questions & answers about water hardness & water hardness measurement

How reliable are test strips?

For the Quick orientation very well suited. For detailed planning, a More precise measurement and the design of your system can be precisely determined.

How often should I measure the water hardness?

For households, we recommend measuring the water hardness at least once a year. It also makes sense to carry out a measurement after installation work, when moving in or when appliances/fittings become noticeably calcified.

Why does my measurement result differ from the municipal data?

Municipal values are reference values on the mains. Values can change slightly in domestic installations (aerators, filters, storage tanks). Therefore: measure at the tap.

Do I even need softening with district heating or a heat pump?

Limescale settles wherever water is heated - regardless of the heating system. Limescale protection pays off especially with hard water and larger storage tanks.

Ion exchange - is it safe?

Yes, a tried and tested process that is widely used in Switzerland. The water remains perfectly edible. We design in such a way that hygiene, comfort and efficiency are just right.

How long does a water softener last?

Typical 15-20+ years with professional installation and regular maintenance. Resin and wearing parts are checked during servicing.

Do I need to add salt?

Yes, with ion exchangers, regenerating salt must be added to the salt tank (3-4 times a year for normal water consumption). Our service technician will explain everything you need to know about this during commissioning.

What do °fH, °dH and mmol/l mean?
  • °fH = French degrees of hardness (Swiss standard)

  • °dH = German degrees of hardness

  • 1 °dH ≈ 1.78 °fH, 1 °fH ≈ 0.56 °dH

1 mmol/l CaCO₃ ≈ 10 °fH (reference value)

Does softening change the taste of the water?

Light - chalky notes disappear, the water works softer. It remains perfectly drinkable.

Is softened water better for skin and hair?

Many people find decalcified water more pleasant: less lime film, less dry skin - shampoo and soap lather better, reducing the amount needed.

Are white spots always limescale?

Often yes. However, residues of sodium (salt) or soap or washing-up liquid residues can also leave white stains. Unlike limescale deposits, however, these can be easily removed with water - without the need for aggressive cleaning agents such as vinegar.

What happens in the event of a power failure?

The Frei AquaService system continues to supply softened water even in the event of a power failure - as long as there is still capacity in the resin.
During this time, however, the controller cannot record any water quantities and therefore cannot calculate the remaining capacity correctly.

For short interruptions (1-3 hours), this is unproblematic and has no noticeable effects.
During longer power outages, however, the system may reach its capacity and the water may temporarily no longer be softened.

In this case - or if there is uncertainty - it is recommended to carry out a manual regeneration after the power supply has been restored. The system is then fully operational again.

What is the difference between softening and descaling?
  • Softening (ion exchange): Removes calcium/magnesium → less lime throughout the house.

  • Decalcification (colloquial): see information on softening.
We are an apartment building / administration - is that also possible?

Yes, we plan according to your needs, including a maintenance concept and cost overview.

Frei AquaService AG
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