What is Hard Water?
Have you noticed hard water build up in your home or office and ever wonder just what it is or the effects it can have? How hard your water is can depend on the region you live in. Many areas in the Midwest can have hard water. It is not usually hazardous to your health, but it can take its toll on your plumbing and belongings.
Is My Water Hard?
Hard water is hard to miss. Although water may appear clear, it will leave cloudy marks on your dishes that are hard to remove. It will also stain your sinks and tubs. Your clothes will feel rough and look dull after a few washings. You may feel a residue on your skin after washing your hands or showering. If any of these things sound familiar, you probably have an overabundance of minerals.
What is in Hard Water?
Water usually contains some dissolved minerals, but hard water contains high amounts of these minerals. Calcium and magnesium are the most common contributors. If your home or business uses groundwater, then you are more likely to have this issue because your water will pick up and dissolve minerals as it moves. If left untreated, it can lead to serious scale buildup in plumbing. It can even lead to reduced diameter inside pipes when it builds up and reduces the water flow.
Is It Harmful?
Minerals are good, and calcium and magnesium are not harmful to drink. While there are no major health risks associated with consuming hard water, it can dry out skin and hair. However, it is damaging to equipment that uses that water and things that get washed with it. The life expectancy of things like your water heater will go down. As we mentioned before, build-up in your pipes can reduce your water pressure. It can also clog up your fixtures, adding to the water pressure issue. The build-up can accumulate around the aerators of your faucet or showerhead.
You will also likely have to replace your appliances that use hard water more often. For example, your coffee maker or dishwasher’s life expectancy can go down as well. Some use vinegar or other acidic descaling solutions to help improve performance and clean them. However, depending on how hard your water is, you may have to do this quite often.
At Valley Fire Protection & Plumbing, we can help you with your water treatment system needs. If you have been dealing with hard water for a long time, we can help fix the damage that is already done. Give us a call to find out about our repiping services or replacing your damaged fixtures.
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