If you have a large amount of dissolved minerals in your water, you live in one of the 85 percent of homes in America with hard water. The trace minerals in hard water aren't necessarily bad for your health, but they can cause various problems in your home. Well water is often hard, but plenty of urban locations can have hard water as well. If you've noticed some of the following things occurring in your house, then you probably have hard water.
Symptoms of Hard Water in Your Home
How can you tell if your home has hard water? Multiple clues around your house can indicate the presence of hard water. Some of these signs can occur on your fixtures, appliances, and dishes; others might appear on your person.
Odd-Tasting or -Smelling Water
Hard water often has a metallic or earthy taste due to minerals like iron or manganese. A rotten egg smell, however, usually indicates sulfur bacteria or hydrogen sulfide gas, often found in well water, and not a direct result of hardness.
Mineral Buildup on Fixtures
One sign of hard water that's easy to spot is a buildup of minerals on faucets, sinks, bathtubs, and other fixtures. If you've noticed brown or red stains on your porcelain or metal, then you likely have hard water. You can often remove these stains using vinegar or a cleaner, but they'll continue to build up on your fixtures until you address the hard water issue.
Soap Scum Buildup
Even if you don't have red or brown stains forming on your fixtures due to hard water, you likely have white deposits present. These white water spots are calcium deposits that are left behind when hard water evaporates. As with the mineral buildup, you'll need to scrub your tub, tiles, and glass frequently until you find a way to soften your water.
Clogged Pipes
Hard water can also cause your pipes to fill with scale and sediment. Over time, this mineral buildup can cause your pipes to narrow and clog, particularly if you have older metal pipes like galvanized steel. The buildup can restrict water flow, corrode pipes, and lead to leaks over time. Newer piping materials like PEX and PVC are more resistant to this issue.
Problems with Water-Using Appliances
If your pipes are being clogged by mineral buildup, then your appliances are likely having problems too. Any appliances that use water, including washing machines, ice makers, dishwashers, and water heaters, can develop scale over time. This buildup can reduce performance, shorten the appliance’s lifespan, and eventually lead to breakdowns.
Faded Clothing
Clothes often fade faster when washed with hard water. Hard water contains minerals that bond with detergent and stick to your fabric, causing bright colors to fade more quickly than if soft water were used. White clothes can also become discolored in hard water; you might notice yellowing and a general dinginess discoloring your whites if they're washed in hard water.
Partially Cleaned Clothing
Discoloring isn't the only negative thing that can happen to your clothes when they're laundered in hard water. You might notice that your laundry doesn’t feel or smell clean, even after a full cycle. Minerals in the water can prevent detergent from working effectively, leaving behind residue. Towels and fabrics may also feel scratchy or stiff to the touch.
Spotting on Dishes
Dishes that're fresh from the dishwasher may not be properly clean if you're washing them in hard water. Since hard water doesn't fully dissolve detergent, a white residue might appear on your cutlery and glassware. Glassware may have a murky film if you've washed your dishes using hard water.
Dry Hair and Skin
If you shower in hard water, you might experience overly dry hair and skin. Hard water doesn't rinse soap off effectively, leaving behind residue that can cause dryness and irritation. This can be especially noticeable in the winter when skin is already more sensitive.
Damaged Hair
Hard water can also cause mineral residue to cling to your hair and scalp. While this can lead to discomfort and dryness, it can also cause hair to become brittle and more prone to breakage. Over time, this brittleness may contribute to thinning or damage. Installing a water softener can help protect your hair and restore its texture.
Dermatitis
In addition to dry skin, hard water may aggravate existing skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis. While not the direct cause, it can make symptoms worse by preventing proper rinsing of soap or skin products.
Solutions to Hard Water
Fortunately, you don't have to put up with hard water forever. You have multiple options to improve the quality of your water. Some of these methods are easy enough that you can do them on your own, while others require the help of a professional. Note that the first several methods are temporary fixes that help manage symptoms but don’t address the root of the problem.
Clean with Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural, budget-friendly acid that breaks up mineral deposits and stains on your fixtures and appliances. Soaking small fixtures in hot vinegar for an hour can dissolve calcium deposits. Rinsing surfaces with apple cider vinegar and filtered water can help remove soap scum. Running distilled vinegar through your appliances can help to descale them.
Clean with a Rinse Aid
Another way you can deal with hard water deposits is to use a rinse aid. Rinse aids are designed to help soap molecules dissolve in hard water, resulting in cleaner and spot-free dishes and glassware. They're easy to find at supermarkets or hardware stores and work well with most dishwashers.
Purchase a Water Treatment System
While the previous methods can help you treat the symptoms of hard water, they can't solve the root cause. The best way to reduce water hardness is to have a professional install a whole-home water softening system. These systems remove calcium and magnesium ions from the water, protecting your pipes, appliances, laundry, and skin. A licensed plumber can help you select, install, and maintain the ideal system for your home.
Top-Notch Services in Grand Rapids
At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing®, we work hard to provide punctual, reliable plumbing services for the people of Grand Rapids, MI. You can trust our plumbers to install your water treatment system with the utmost professionalism and competence. We'll evaluate your water quality and help you choose the ideal water purifier or softener for your home. We also fix bathtubs, faucets, showers, and other fixtures that have been damaged by hard water. If your pipes have been corroded or clogged by hard water, we can repair or replace them for you. Contact us today at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® so we can help you with your hard water troubles quickly and efficiently.
