5 Common Effects of Hard Water
As a natural occurrence, rainwater is pure. As it falls from the sky, rain absorbs different minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These impurities chemically bond with water to make it hard.
In this regard, the more the number of minerals, the harder the water. These minerals might also be found in your plumbing system. When water passes through pipes, it becomes contaminated and turns hard.
The hardness of water is measured in milligrams per liter. Through water treatment, water hardness can be brought down tremendously.
How can you tell if your home’s water is hard? The easiest way is to wash your hands with soap, or dump soap in a basin of water. When you wash your hands with soap, the soap will react with calcium leaving behind a film of scum. If you add soap to water and realize that it takes longer to foam or doesn’t foam at all, it may be hard.
While it may be safe to drink hard water, its taste may put you off. Some say it tastes like chalk, while others say it’s slightly sour. Unfortunately, those excess minerals can be damaging to your plumbing system, your skin and your appliances. Another sign that indicates the presence of hard water is mineral deposits that look like stains.
These stains have different colors depending on the most prevalent mineral at the time. Unfortunately, by the time you see the stains, it’s often too late and most of your surfaces and fabrics are damaged.
Here are some five effects of hard water you should know.
1. Damages Plumbing Systems
Some minerals combine with water to form weak acids. When such water comes into contact with metallic pipes, corrosion starts to take place. Layers of mineral deposits, commonly known as scale deposits, begin to manifest. The most common place you will find these deposits are around the drains, showerheads, and faucets.
Another item not spared is the rubber washers used to seal fixtures. The deposits weaken the rubber creating weak points where water could easily leak. Consequently, the water flow is reduced due to the leakages created or accumulated deposits resulting in bursting of the pipes.
Licensed plumbers are not allowed by law to use chemicals such as Calcium Lime Rust (CLR) to dissolve the mineral deposits. If consumed, water through such pipes can have detrimental effects on your health. The only viable solution is replacing the damaged pipes with the help of professionals.
2. Wastage of Soap and Fabrics
As earlier mentioned, hard water prevents soap from dissolving quickly. This is brought about when soap ingredients bond with the minerals (mainly calcium) in the water to form scum. As a result, you will have to use more soap even for the simplest of tasks and in the littlest amount of water.
This alone is a nuisance, especially when you have to clean a large area or even many clothes and dishes. Along with that, it’s a waste of money. The scum sticks onto everything, causing rings of stain that are unsightly.
Even after drying up, clothes washed with hard water will have deposits making them look dingy. The cloth fabrics wear out faster than usual, and their color taints. This immensely degrades the clothes’ lifespan, making you have to purchase others more often than you should.
A cloth damaged by hard water is quite easy to spot in the crowd, leaving your confidence altered as well.
3. Damages Appliances
Hard water reacts with appliances, causing corrosion. With frequent use of hard water in cleaning kitchen wares and appliances, spots and streaks are created. As a result, wear-and-tear of these items escalates.
In no time, replacement becomes necessary. Cleaning the stained appliances can be time-consuming, thereby posing challenges. It would help if you were on the lookout for such signs to protect your appliances from wearing out rapidly.
Also, the mineral deposits accumulated on appliances, especially heating ones, make them consume more energy. Unknown to many is that most appliances have labels that recommend using them with treated water for significant results.
4. Increased Water Heater Energy Consumption
As limescale builds up, heating of the water takes longer. This is because the heater first has to heat the accumulated deposits, dissolving them. Then, the water follows suit. This process consumes more energy, and the longer you keep on, the higher the costs you will incur later on.
Many reports claim that heating soft water is up to 30% much cheaper than hard water. Scaling that difference, imagine the savings that a huge apartment can make.
5. Hair Loss & Skin Damage
Hard water causes loss of hair in the long run. Chemicals like calcium, magnesium, and silica in the water cause hair thinning, breakage, and scalp dryness. If used frequently, it can damage your hair follicles and make way for the formation of dandruff.
Aside from causing dandruff in your hair, hard water also gives your hair a very rough texture. Even using shampoos and hair moisturizers becomes a tough nut to crack.
This is where the use of water softeners kicks in. They are added to treat the water as a hair loss preventive measure.
Calcium and magnesium destroy the outer layer of the human skin. The skin naturally moisturizes itself to prevent dryness. Hard water contradicts this factor, leaving skin super dry. It’s known to also cause skin flaking and redness. In some extreme cases, users may get acne due to contacting these minerals.
Depending on how long you’re in contact with hard water, its effects may range from minor to extreme. This is also highly dependent on how sensitive your skin is. If you naturally have dry skin, you’ll notice the flakes faster than someone with oily skin.
Find a Solution for Hard Water
One temporary solution for hard water is to boil it before use. This is mainly important when using water for drinking. Unfortunately, it’s far from realistic to boil water for every other house chore. Another option would be using distilled white vinegar or washing soda to prevent the stains from forming. This option, however, isn’t effective for all your home needs.
Therefore, the ultimate solution to hard water in your home is getting a water softening system installed for your whole house. This way, every drop of water is filtered and favorable for use. At [company-name] our certified professionals can help with the installation of whole-home water softeners.
We also offer repair and replacement of the same so as to ensure that your water is always filtered and soft. Say goodbye to horrible stains on sinks, clothing, and appliances. [Company_name] is an A+ rated contractor accredited by the Better Business Bureau with technicians that are Nate and NCI certified.
Would you like to soften your hard water in your Roseville, MI, home? Contact our experts at C & C Heating & Air Conditioning in the greater metro Detroit area and we’ll install a whole-house water softener. We also offer a full range of heating and cooling services.
