The quality of the water flowing through the pipes in your Waco, TX home is very important. Not only does water quality impact your health and well-being, but it can also lead to damage to your plumbing system and appliances. When water contains high concentrations of minerals like magnesium and calcium, this is called hard water. Understanding the causes and impact of hard water can help you take precautions that will protect your home’s water supply with water treatment services.
What Causes Hard Water?
As water moves through soil and rock that contain minerals, the water will pick up these minerals. Water becomes harder as it moves slowly or stays stagnant, allowing for more minerals to be absorbed. It’s common for locations with chalk, gypsum, or limestone to have hard water, as these materials tend to have more minerals in them. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon or gpg for short. If your water has a pH above 7, it's considered hard. Water that has a gpg measurement of 10.5 or more is very hard. It’s important to note that, typically, hard water isn’t harmful to your health unless you have chronic health issues like kidney disease or eczema. The problem usually has to do with mineral deposits accumulating and impacting the efficiency of your home's plumbing system and related appliances.
How Can Hard Water Impact Your Plumbing System?
It can take many months or even years to notice the full effect that hard water can have on your plumbing system. As limescale builds up, it can narrow your pipes, reducing the flow of water. This increases the pressure inside your pipes and can lead to pipes bursting or leaking. Your showerheads, faucets, and fixtures can become clogged with mineral deposits. This makes them appear dirty, but they can also become less efficient as deposit prevalence increases. Your water heater has an anode rod in its storage tank, which acts as a sacrificial part that collects mineral deposits and other sediments over time. However, it’s not uncommon for mineral deposits to accumulate on the interior components of your heater as well and cause problems. This results in your water heater working harder to heat water, increasing equipment wear and tear, and the need for repairs. This can also shorten the life expectancy of your water heater, which is expensive to replace. Other appliances in your home, like washing machines, dishwashers, and drinking water systems, can be impacted by hard water. Minerals build up over time and impede normal operation. You may find yourself scheduling frequent repairs.
Spotting Signs of Hard Water
There are some common signs to watch out for that indicate your home is dealing with hard water. Look at your faucets, fixtures, showers, and bathtubs. You may see a chalky, white residue on them if you have hard water. You may also see a film or water spots on your dishes even after you have washed them. Clothes that are being washed in hard water may wear out faster than those washed in softer water. They may also feel stiff, or colors will appear dull.
Addressing Hard Water Problems
While you may not be able to control the quality of water that’s coming into your home, there are ways that you can protect your plumbing system, appliances, health, and skin. There are different types of equipment and filters that you can use.
Installing a Water Softener in Your Home
A water softener is a system that can remove magnesium and calcium using an ion exchange method. The hard minerals are replaced with potassium or sodium ions. Water flows into the water softener from your main water source. The water flows through negatively charged resin beads, where calcium and magnesium are held. Sodium or potassium ions are then released into the water to soften it. The softer water will move out of the tank and through the plumbing system in your home. This water will come out of your faucets, fixtures, and into your appliances. Over time, the resin beads in your water softener will become quite saturated with hard minerals. A regeneration cycle will run periodically, usually at night while you’re sleeping and using minimal amounts of water. During this regeneration cycle, a concentrated brine solution will clean the beads so that the hard minerals are removed. Water softeners are relatively affordable and have many benefits. Not only do they protect your plumbing and appliances, but they also make it easier for you to clean your clothing and dishes. Softened water is better for your skin and hair, making them appear healthier and cleaner. You can even save money on your monthly energy consumption by supporting efficient appliances like your hot water heater.
Descaling Filters
A filtration device with a descaling filter can change the structure of the minerals in your water. This prevents the buildup of limescale. These filters are generally affordable and easy to replace.
Scheduling Routine Plumbing Maintenance
There are some plumbing maintenance tasks that you can do on your own, such as cleaning your showerheads and faucets. Our team can help perform other tasks, such as draining and flushing your water heater annually. If you have a water softener system or filtration equipment, you should have these units professionally inspected and serviced periodically. This can include cleaning interior components, replacing resin beads, and cleaning tanks. A professional plumbing inspection can evaluate your pipes to ensure that hard water isn’t causing narrowing or other problems. Repairs or maintenance can be performed to address potential issues before damage or major plumbing problems occur.
Installing Whole-House Filtration Equipment
Most mechanical filtration systems don’t remove hard minerals from your water. However, some types of filtration can be effective. This includes a reverse osmosis system, which removes most minerals from the water. Reverse osmosis technology works using a semi-permeable membrane. As water moves through this membrane using pressure, microscopic pores will block contaminants and minerals. Reverse osmosis systems remove things like chemicals, fluoride, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses. A reverse osmosis system usually has a series of three filters or more. You’ll need to keep up with replacing these filters approximately once every six to 12 months, depending on the types of filters you’re using. Maintenance of a reverse osmosis system also includes periodically flushing and disinfecting the storage tank where purified water is held until you need it. Most homeowners use reverse osmosis to achieve healthy drinking water. However, there are whole-house units that treat all the water that is flowing through your plumbing system as well. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is available to help you with your hard water dilemma. We want to ensure that the quality of your water is ideal to protect your appliances and plumbing system. Whether you are interested in a water softener system, a filtration unit, or have any other plumbing needs, we’re happy to help. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment or to speak with someone from our team.
