You may have heard the terms “hard water” and “soft water” bandied around, particularly in the sense that hard water is a horrible thing. In truth, hard water isn’t a health hazard, and drinking it can even help to contribute towards building magnesium and calcium levels, which are critically low in many people.
However, there’s some question as to whether the benefits of hard water outweigh the problems it causes, and many people still choose to try and soften their home water supply. Discover some typical issues with hard water, what causes these problems, and how a home water softener system can eliminate the situation.
What Is Hard Water?
“Hard” water is simply water that has a high mineral content, and it’s usually formed when the water supply travels through limestone and chalk deposits which contain high amounts of magnesium carbonate and calcium. These minerals then get into the water.
While drinking it isn’t strictly unhealthy, there can be issues with hard water in terms of bathing, doing laundry, cleaning dishes, plumbing problems, and other areas in your home.
Bathing Issues with Hard Water
When you bathe in hard water, you can end up with a film on your skin that is created from the interaction between the minerals and your soap. This film can make it harder to get truly clean, leaving dirt and bacteria on your skin. You may also encounter dry and itchy skin, as well as losing the luster in your hair, which becomes dry and hard to manage.
Cleaning Hard Water Issues
Hard water also causes problems with cleaning in the home. Washing clothes in hard water can cause them to become scratchy, and the material more brittle. Clothing washed in hard water tends to deteriorate 40 percent faster than other clothes.
Dishes cleaned in hard water may end up with spots and film which can be difficult to remove and builds up over time. While this doesn’t present health problems, it can create unsightly dishes that never really look clean.
Plumbing Problems from Hard Water
Hard water can be devastating to your plumbing and pipework systems over time. Especially when heated, hard water creates limescale deposits that build up in your pipes and damage water flow in the home. In addition, the more scale that builds up, the harder water has to work to get through the pipes which can contribute to leaks or even complete pipe bursting.
All of this increases your water bill and sets you up for potentially costly repairs to your home plumbing. In fact, limescale has been cited to increase home energy costs by as much as 25 percent.
Dealing with Hard Water Issues
The best way to deal with hard water issues in your home is, quite simply, to soften the water! There are a number of ways to do this, from filtered drinking water to tap aerators, but the best way is with a whole home water softener system. If you’re in Southern Nevada and would like to learn more about how a water softener can solve your hard water problems, or you’d like to schedule an installation, call EcoWater Systems today!