What exactly is 'hard water'?
How does it affects your home and appliances?
Hard water is the amount of minerals, calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in your water. One way to remove this “dissolved rock” from your water supply is to install a water softener. The best way to determine whether or not your water is hard is to have it tested. However, you can usually detect hard water by the evidence in your home, including:
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Soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles, and basins
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Film left on the body resulting in dry skin and dull, limp hair
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Decreased cleaning capabilities of soaps and detergents, resulting in dingy laundry and reduced life of clothing
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Increased buildup of scale on plumbing fixtures and cooking utensils such as a tea kettle, coffee maker, and dishwashers
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Clogged shower head and pipes
Are RUST STAINS destroying your appliances?
Clear water iron is not visible immediately as it flows from your faucet. Once exposed to the air, the iron oxidizes and will leave rust stains, destroying your clothing, sinks, showers and fixtures.
Why does water quality affect
the lifespan of my appliances?
Hard water forms scale build-up in plumbing and water-using appliances, this causes a restricted flow of water in your dishwasher, washing machine and shower head. Eventually the build up will lead to the need to repair these items more frequently or replace them altogether. In many hard water areas, the flow of the water running through household plumbing lines can be reduced to the size of a ball point pen head.
Why are my energy costs increasing?
Hard water forms a scale build-up in appliances such as the water heater. If the scale is only 1/8" thick, 33% more fuel is required to heat the water. Imagine placing a couple of bricks beneath your teakettle in the morning. First, you heat the bricks, and then you heat the kettle. The same principle applies to your water heater. More energy is needed to heat hard water scale before it heats your water. Soft water means no more hard water scale to heat and that means a lower energy cost.
What causes corroded plumbing?
pH. Potential of Hydrogen. A reading of 7 is neutral. Blue/Green stains can be an indicator of low pH. Low pH is an acidic condition and can cause corrosion in pipes and fixtures.
Why does my water have a chlorine taste and odor?
The most common way municipalities treat water is to add chlorine. Although an effective method of removing dangerous bacteria from the water supply, chlorine can leave an unpleasant taste and odor. Chlorine can also irritate the skin and eyes.
What is the rotten egg smell?
A very offensive "rotten egg" smell indicates the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide. Hydrogen Sulfide develops from decaying organic matter, some bacteria and even petroleum refining.
Is all well water the same?
Water from a well may have a variety of issues. Each well, even if in close proximity of one another, can have a completely separate composition. Common well water problems are dirt, sediment, hardness, iron and bacteria.
