Obvious Signs of Hard Water

Have you thought about your home’s water lately? Specifically, have you thought about how hard or soft your water is? Chances are, you haven’t. Most people don’t even realize what hard water is–they hear the term and think that it’s odd because water is a liquid and can’t physically be hard.

However, this assumption is somewhat incorrect. Although water can’t be hard like a rock or wood is, it can contain traces of minerals that build up over time and can have significant effects on your home. We’re going to take a look at some of the signs your water may need to be treated or softened–keep reading for more information!

Health Signs of Hard Water

You might be thinking that hard water won’t really affect you and that it’s not a concern you should worry about. This is false as hard water can cause your hair to become dull and lifeless as well as your skin to become dry, itchy, and flaky (yes, the flakiness can manifest as dandruff).

Other studies suggest that consuming hard water over a period of time can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and reproductive failure.

Water Quality

Sometimes you won’t exhibit signs of health problems when you have hard water. However, there can be several other signs that your home is suffering from excess minerals that are found flowing through your pipes:

• Strange bathroom stains- if your toilet, tub, or sink continually has reddish brown stains, that look similar to the color of rust, you can blame the iron levels in your water. Many people find that vinegar helps remove the stains, but that will only temporarily take care of the problem.
• Soap scum- maybe you’ve been lucky and not had to deal with rust-colored stains. Another problem hard water often causes is excess soap scum. This can be an annoyance to remove and require excess product. Additionally, the biofilm created by this scum on shower curtains can allow for diseases to spread.
• Clogged pipes- the minerals in your water can build up as limescale on the inner walls of your pipes. Over time, this can constrict the flow of water, eventually stopping the flow completely.
• Appliance repairs- hard water and appliances do not get along. The minerals cause premature wear and tear which shorten the lifespan and require repair or replacement more often.
• Dingy clothes- some people don’t mind having to replace their clothes from time to time but with hard water, you will have to replace them far more often. When clothes are washed normally, the detergent is used to get rid of dirt. Unfortunately, hard water makes it almost impossible to remove all remnants of the detergent which allows for it to build up over time, dulling colors and greying whites.

Water Quality Standards

In order to determine whether or not your home has soft water or not, tests can be performed and the amount of minerals can be measured. The standard of Grains per Gallon for soft water is less than 1.0.

If you have a higher mineral content, your water may be rated slightly hard, moderately hard, hard, or very hard. Each of these ratings has a correlating number of Grains per Gallon.

If you want to find out more about hard water and if your home’s water has excessive minerals, do a bit of research. For more in-depth information, give Allore’s Plumbing Services, LLC a call at (772) 288-0998. We are glad to test for hard water, inform you of the benefits of soft water, and educate you about the options available to treat this problem!