Introduction
Many homes have a problem with hard water, which means their water contains a lot of minerals like calcium and magnesium. This can cause a bunch of issues, such as buildup on faucets, spots on dishes after washing, and soap that doesn’t lather well. It’s important to understand and manage hard water because it can make your plumbing less efficient and shorten the life of your appliances. In this blog post, we’ll look at how hard water affects your plumbing, how to spot the signs of hard water, and what you can do to fix these issues and keep your home in good shape.
What is Hard Water?
Hard water has a lot of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, which it picks up from soil and rocks. These minerals are natural and dissolve into the water, making it “hard.” The hardness of the water is measured in grains per gallon (gpg) or parts per million (ppm). If water has more than 7 gpg or 120 ppm, it’s considered hard. Knowing how hard your water is helps you figure out how serious the problem is and whether you need to treat the water. It’s really important to know about this to take good care of your plumbing at home.
Why is Hard Water Harmful?
Hard water is tough on your plumbing because it has so many minerals. These minerals can build up inside pipes, a problem called scaling, which can block water flow and increase pressure. This might cause leaks or even make the pipes burst. Hard water also affects appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. For example, it can coat the heating elements in water heaters, making them use more energy to heat water and costing you more money. Faucets and shower heads can also get clogged and stop working well, which means you might need to replace or fix them more often. By knowing how hard water damages your home, you can take steps to prevent these problems.
How to Prevent Hard Water Issues
To deal with hard water, you need solutions that either remove the minerals or change them so they don’t cause harm. One common solution is using a water softener. This device swaps the calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium or potassium, making the water soft. Another option is magnetic and electronic descalers. These don’t take the minerals out but change their properties so they won’t build up in your pipes or on appliances. There are also filters that reduce the mineral content in your drinking water. Using these tools together gives you a good way to handle hard water and keep your plumbing running smoothly.
If you need assistance installing a water softener or need help with repairs, contact AO Dowd Plumbing, Plumber in Fontana any time at 909-684-1915 or at aodowdplumbing@gmail.com