What is Hard Water and how does it affects your home?
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:
-
Soap scum on bathtubs, shower tiles, and basins
-
Film left on the body resulting in dry skin and dull, limp hair
-
Decreased cleaning capabilities of soaps and detergents, resulting in dingy laundry and reduced life of clothing.
-
Increased buildup of scale on plumbing fixtures and cooking utensils such as a tea kettle, coffee maker, and dishwashers.
-
Clogged shower head and pipes
"RUST STAINS DESTROYING YOUR HOME"
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.
REDUCED LIFE OF YOUR WATER USING 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.
INCREASED ENERGY COST
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.
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.
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.
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.
