Solving Hard Water Problems
While generally harmless to your overall health, hard water’s high mineral content can lower your overall comfort levels and damage your appliances, leading to costly repairs and unnecessary headaches.
But a water softener can fix it. You can extend the lifespan of expensive appliances and enhance your skincare and shower routines.
AHS has put this guide together to help you determine if a water softener is right for you.
What Makes Hard Water Hard?
Hard Water - “Hard water” simply means there are high levels of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in the water. While they’re dissolved and practically invisible, you can feel their presence. The water will feel less slippery, and it can leave behind a residue on your skin and other surfaces.
Soft Water - “Soft water” is water that has been treated—usually with a residential water softener—to remove the extra minerals, making it kinder to your skin and your appliances.
Effects of Hard Water on Appliances and Plumbing
Because of its high mineral content, hard water can cause a variety of issues within your plumbing and appliances that rely on water. A few of the biggest problems homeowners face:
- Difficulty cleaning - Hard water often leaves behind “hard water stains”—deposits of minerals that are difficult to remove from surfaces.
- Reduced water pressure - Mineral buildup inside pipes and appliances reduces water flow and water pressure.
- Reduced performance - With reduced water pressure, appliances like dishwashers may struggle to clean everything properly, and washing machines often struggle to properly clean clothes as the detergents may struggle inside the hard water.
- Reduced efficiency - As your appliances need to work harder to perform their tasks, they’ll also consume more energy. If you find yourself running the dishwasher multiple times for a single load or throwing clothes back into the washing machine, it’s time to consider whether your water is too hard.
The Most Common Signs Your Water Is Too Hard
Hard water can cause plenty of problems, and you’ll likely notice the warning signs quickly:
- Your skin feels drier than usual. The minerals in hard water can dehydrate your skin.
- Your clothes don’t look or feel clean. Many laundry detergents struggle with the minerals in hard water, and that reduces their performance in the washing machine.
- Buildup in your showerhead or soap residue in the bathtub. Keep a close eye on your bathtub and shower! If it gets harder and harder to keep clean, you might have a hard water problem.
- There’s low water pressure. As we mentioned earlier, mineral deposits in your pipes reduce water flow and water pressure.
- Water has a metallic taste. If the taste of your water changes over time, it could be caused by an increase in mineral content.
- After shampooing, you have lackluster hair. If you’re struggling to wash the shampoo out of your hair or to recapture the shine it once held, the problem could be your water!