Do you ever wonder why your skin and hair feel so dry after you shower? Why your dishes come out of the dishwasher with a chalky film? Or why you have to use more soap and detergent than usual? These are all common problems caused by hard water.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water that has high mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium. Minerals are present in all sources of water, but when the amount of minerals exceeds a certain limit, it is considered hard. Hard water can increase laundry costs and affect the lifespan of appliances, as well as leaving a residue on fixtures and surfaces.
Why is Hard Water a Problem?
Hard water can cause soap to form scum that does not dissolve, leaving an unsightly residue. It can also cause the buildup of scale deposits in fixtures and pipes, leading to inefficient water flow and increased costs for plumbing maintenance. Hard water can also be difficult to lather, leaving clothes and dishes feeling gritty or stiff.
The minerals in hard water reduce the effectiveness of laundry detergents, leading to clothes becoming dingy and gray. In addition, these minerals can corrode metal fixtures in appliances over time, reducing their efficiency. Hard water can also be a problem in heating systems, as scale buildup hampers the efficient transfer of heat and leads to increased energy consumption. Also, hard water can lead to mineral buildup in water heaters, reducing the lifespan of the appliance and necessitating frequent repairs.
Hard water can cause dry scalps and flaky skin, which can affect your hair and skin. Soap scum in showers and bathtubs can be difficult to remove, and mineral deposits are likely to form on fixtures like faucets. Minerals can give your drinking water a bad taste or smell.
Dealing with Hard Water
There are ways to treat hard water. One option is to install a water softener, which works by exchanging sodium ions for the hard minerals in your water. This results in softer and cleaner water that is free from mineral buildup. You can also get a reverse osmosis system, which filters out hard minerals and other contaminants. Finally, you can install whole-house filtration systems to remove minerals from your water – these work by trapping the minerals on a filter, allowing clean water to pass through. With NorCal Water Systems, for example, a filtration system is only a phone call away.
No matter which method you choose, it’s important to have a professional regularly inspect and maintain your water softener or filtration system. Without regular maintenance, these systems can become inefficient, which means they won’t be able to effectively remove the hard minerals from your water. If you have a filtration system, you’ll have to replace the filter regularly, since trapped minerals will clog it up.
You can talk to experts in your area about the various options for your home if you’re looking for solutions. From water softeners to filtration systems, there are many effective solutions for dealing with hard water. With the right equipment, you can reduce the effects of hard water and get your water back to being safe and healthy for you and your family (and your appliances!).
For more information about plumbing be sure to check out Inner City Plumbing.
