Plumbing

Does your home have hard water? If it does, you should know it can have a negative effect on your home’s plumbing. It can damage your pipes and plumbing fixtures, resulting in high repair bills for you. If you think you have hard water, here are five common signs.

What Is Hard Water?

Water must travel through several environments before it reaches your home’s plumbing fixtures. Over time, it comes into contact with soil and rocks, and it can accumulate natural minerals such as magnesium and calcium. The more minerals it picks up, the harder it will be. Hard water exists all over the United States and impacts millions of homes. Water hardness does vary from place to place, and the source of your water can play a major role in how hard it is. Unlike soft water, hard water can cause a host of inconveniences and have a negative impact on your home’s plumbing.

Signs of Hard Water

There are various symptoms of this issue. Let’s take them one at a time.

1. Hair Problems

Did you know that hard water can affect your hair? If your home suffers from hard water, your hair might feel filmy or scummy. This occurs when the extra minerals in your water come into contact with your shampoo. That causes a filmy substance to form, and it sticks to your hair in much the same way soap scum sticks to your bathroom fixtures. You may be tempted to wash your hair more often to deal with the problem, but the more you wash it, the dryer it will become. This will result in frizzy, coarse hair, as well as the formation of dandruff.

Hard water can also make it more difficult for your hair to retain color. The minerals in the water can build up on the shafts of your hair and cause them to change pigmentation. The more you wash your hair, the more your real hair color might fade. Since hard water deposits can accumulate in your shower head, you may not even have enough water pressure to adequately wash your hair.

2. Dry Skin

Since hard water leaves soap behind, it can cause your skin to become itchy and dry. The hard water on your body will remove the moisture from the surface of your skin. Dry, itchy skin can be a major problem, especially if you already suffer from a skin condition like eczema. Simply put, if you don’t want dry skin, you should avoid bathing in hard water.

3. Excess Soap Scum

No one likes soap scum. It is generally unpleasant, and it can make your bathroom look unclean. The minerals in hard water can cause white spots to form on your fixtures. This is because hard water combines with detergents and soap, and when this occurs, the soap can curdle, causing it to become sticky instead of slippery. This sticky residue then gets left behind on your dishes, shower, clothing, hair, and skin. Hard water also reduces the effectiveness of soap and detergents, so you may have to use more detergent or soap to get yourself and your home clean. Unfortunately, the more soap you use, the more soap scum you will have to combat.

4. Dingier Laundry

As previously mentioned, minerals like magnesium and calcium are often found in hard water. These minerals prevent detergents and soap from cleaning properly. This is especially true of laundry detergent. The curdled, white substance that clings to your shower and sink can stick to your laundry too. This results in dingier clothes that don’t seem as clean as they could be when they come out of the washer. The leftover residue can even cause more dirt to stick to your clothes. Hard water also causes fading and puts more wear on clothing. The calcium and magnesium in hard water can make your laundry stiff. Towels exposed to hard water also become less absorbent over time.

5. Frequent Problems With Appliances

Hard water can cause expensive problems with your appliances. The mineral buildup can damage your home’s expensive devices, from your washer and dryer to your water heater. Hard water can put more wear and tear on your appliances, causing them to become less and less effective before they finally stop working.

Hard water minerals can have an especially damaging impact on your water heater, causing it to become less efficient. These minerals can also build up in coffee pots, humidifiers, and dryers. High-efficiency washers may not be able to function properly if they are clogged with hard water minerals.

How Does Hard Water Affect Your Plumbing System?

Hard water can cause calcium and magnesium buildup in your pipes. This places additional strain on your home’s plumbing system. When minerals accumulate in your pipes, you may start to have problems with water flow and pressure. They can also cause corrosion since your pipes contain metal components. If you don’t deal with your hard water problem swiftly and effectively, your home’s entire plumbing system can fail.

Minerals accumulate over time. One of the most common signs of accumulation is decreased water flow. This is because water will have more difficulty traveling through a pipe with excessive mineral buildup. Since pipes are such an integral part of your home’s plumbing system, you must ensure they remain free of hard water and mineral deposits.

The Cost of Hard Water

As stated above, hard water can be expensive. When you solve your hard water problem, you may immediately start to save money. When your water is normal, your water heater, dishwasher, washing machine, and other appliances won’t have to work so hard. Since your water heater won’t have to deal with mineral deposits, it can operate more efficiently and save you money on your water bill.

Hard water can also cause you to spend considerably more than normal on soaps and detergents. Since hard water makes them less effective, you may find yourself having to make multiple trips to the store to purchase detergent. When you soften your water, you will notice immediate savings in your monthly grocery bill.

Hard water harms plumbing systems. The scale buildup it leaves inside pipes can result in lower water pressure. When you soften your water, you are extending the life of your plumbing system, and you probably won’t have to make as many repairs and maintenance calls to your plumber. This can contribute significantly to your savings.

Water Softeners

The best way to combat your hard water problem is to install a water softener. A water softener effectively removes the minerals in hard water by using sodium molecules. The sodium combines with the magnesium and calcium as it is filtered, leaving your water soft. Most water softeners will require sodium tablets to do their job. There are whole-house water softeners that immediately soften your water as it enters your home, ensuring it is free of minerals. A plumbing professional can help you decide which one is best for your residence.

Schedule Service Today

MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric in Lenexa understands the negative effects of hard water. That is why we offer premier plumbing services to homeowners throughout the Greater Kansas City vicinity. We provide them with a complete range of electrical and HVAC services as well. We’re prompt and professional, and we strive for total customer satisfaction on every assignment. Contact us at MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric today to arrange an appointment.

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