You may have heard the term hard water at some point, yet not really understood exactly what it was. That’s okay, we’re here to help! Hard water isn’t something that’s harmful to you or your family, so let’s get that out of the way. It simply describes water with a high level of minerals in it—namely magnesium, calcium, and iron.
While these minerals aren’t harmful for you, they can certainly be a threat to your quality of life through your plumbing system. The minerals turn into deposits, clinging to the lining of your pipes and leading to problems like leaks, blockages, and corrosion. Ultimately hard water can end up being a pretty costly issue—so how do you know if your home has this problem? Read on to learn some of the signs.
You’ve Noticed Limescale Buildup on Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances
This is typically a pretty clear sign of hard water. The mineral deposits we just mentioned above will being showing up on faucets, showerheads, and even on appliances that use water like your dishwasher or coffee pot. The buildup is typically unsightly, and can even leave a bit of a bad taste in your water.
Your Skin and Hair Are Dry After Showering
Due to the excess minerals in the water, taking a shower can leave your hair and skin feeling dry and brittle. This is because your soap and shampoo isn’t able to fully have the same effect with hard water, and as a result, your skin and hair don’t get the nourishment they need. So when you dry off, you might not feel all that refreshed.
You’ve Noticed Fading in Your Clothes
Hard water has an impact on your washing machine, as well. What happens is that the minerals in hard water strip the color away from your clothes much faster than treated water would. Your clothes, bedding, and more may feel scratchy due to the mineral buildup.
You See Staining on Your Sinks and Bathtubs
The mineral residue that gets left behind from hard water can start staining your sinks and bathtubs. It’s easy to clean off, for the most part, but do you really want to clean your bathroom every single day? You shouldn’t have to! Combatting hard water with the installation of a whole-house water softener can help with this problem.
Your Clean Glassware and Dishes Are Spotted
Have you ever noticed white spots on your dishes or glassware after they’ve come out of the dishwasher? This problem is caused by hard water, which often means you have to rewash them—what a pain, right? The solution to this is the installation of a water softener!
You Need Plumbing Repairs Pretty Often
If you find yourself facing plumbing repairs pretty often, it may be simply that you have older pipes. Repiping could likely be the resolution this for you. However, it can also be due to the impact hard water is having on your plumbing system. Steel pipes have the hardest time with hard water. They can get damaged relatively easily due to the buildup of minerals, leading to corrosion and leaks.
Contact Performance Plumbing today for a professionally installed water softener in St. Louis, MO.