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Did you know that nearly 85 percent of the United States population has hard water flowing through their homes? What’s more, this percentage is much higher in the state of California, with most residents living in proximity to hard water and using it on a daily basis.
What is Hard Water?
The simple definition of hard water is water that has trace amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium in it. The more calcium and magnesium found in your water, the harder it is.
Hard water is formed as it flows through soil and rocks, and collects small amounts of these naturally occurring materials.
How Does Hard Water Impact My Home?
Hard water in your home will impact your life in a number of ways. Some of the most notable effects of hard water will be seen in your:
Skin. When hard water combines with the soap or body wash that you’re using, it is unable to soak into your skin the way that it’s intended. This means that when it dries, it creates a thin film leaving your skin feeling dry and itchy. This feeling is worsened if you have sensitive skin or a previous skin condition.
Dishes. Similarly to your skin, the combination of hard water and dish detergent creates a thin film on your dishes which leaves them looking cloudy, or spotted.
Laundry. It seems that nothing is safe from the effects of hard water, not even your laundry. Hard water can leave your clothing feeling uncomfortable and looking worn and faded.
Hair. The minerals within your hard water leave your hair feeling brittle and much more prone to breakage.
Coffee. Yes hard water, unfortunately, is impacting the flavor of your coffee! Until you can soften the water in your whole home, you’re better off making coffee with filtered water from a Brita or another portable filtration device.
Plumbing. One of the biggest impacts hard water will have on your home is through the plumbing itself. This happens in a number of ways. As water flows through the pipes, the minerals leave a residue along the inside which builds up over time, restricting water flow. The hard water residue also builds up around your plumbing fixtures like your showerheads, faucets, and more. This impacts water flow and also the look of your plumbing fixtures.
What Can I Do to Beat Hard Water?
There are a few different solutions to choose from when it comes to softening your water. A few of those solutions include:
Water Softener. The one and only goal of a water softener is to reduce the hardness of your water. Nothing else. It does this by using an ion-exchange method that replaces the calcium and magnesium minerals with sodium or potassium, making your water soft.
Reverse Osmosis. What makes a reverse osmosis system different from a water softening system is that it not only softens your water but purifies it as well. Reverse Osmosis systems work by filtering your water through a semi-permeable membrane that reduces nearly all contaminants including salt and minerals as well as other impurities.
If you’re tired of seeing soap scum on everything your water touches or having to spend extra money on random water purifiers throughout your house, then it’s time to invest in a water softening system. Call the experts at Merry Plumbing for a consultation on your water purification needs. We would be happy to help you select the best system for your home. Visit our website for more information!
