What Is Hard Water?
Hard water has a higher than average concentration of mineral deposits. These minerals include magnesium, iron, lime, and even calcium. All of these are naturally occurring and safe. Still, they do affect the taste of your water and the performance of your soaps, detergents, other cleaning products, and even your plumbing appliances. Different areas have different levels of minerals in their water. For example, San Antonio, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis are cities with some of the hardest water in the country.
Signs you may have hard water:
- You see scale buildup on faucets, fixtures, and plumbing.
- Plumbing appliances and kitchen appliances that utilize water frequently suffer from buildup or clogs.
- Soaps and detergents don’t foam as readily.
- Your skin feels slick or slippery in the shower.
- Your laundry isn’t getting as clean as you’d expect.
- You suffer from dry skin, nails, and hair.
- Your dishes have water spots on them.
It is important to remember that hard water is still safe to drink, cook with, and use in your home. Just because you may have hard water in your area does not mean that your water isn’t safe or healthy. If anything, it just poses a small inconvenience and is easily remedied!
Keep reading for answers to more frequently asked questions about hard water.
Will Hard Water Cause Hair Loss?
Though some people have reported hair loss due to hard water, they are more likely to notice that their hair is more prone to breakage and dullness due to buildup. Because of the minerals in hard water, your shampoo and conditioner are a little less effective, which may result in lackluster hair. The mineral content can also have a drying effect on your hair.
Hard water can cause several issues, including:
- Dry, itchy skin
- Brittle nails
- Mineral buildup in hair
- Breakage and split ends on hair
Even if you notice some of these effects, you don’t have to worry! The bright side is that when caused by hard water, none of these issues are permanent. By installing a water softener in your home, you can combat the damaging effects of hard water on your hair, skin, and nails.
Is Hard Water Unsuitable for Doing Laundry?
Yes, indeed, hard water is not ideal when it comes to getting your laundry clean. Though your laundry is still getting clean, hard water does make your laundry detergent a little less effective. This is because the detergent tends to bond to the minerals in the hard water instead of the dirt you are trying to clean off of your clothes. Hard water may also leave residue on your clothes, causing a further buildup of dirt, sweat, and oils that is difficult to remove.
When it comes to solving this problem, you have a few options. First, you should try a different detergent or one specifically designed to work well with hard water, like Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent HE Turbo Clean. You may also add borax to your wash as borax works as an instant water softener and neutralizes laundry odors to boot!
Will Hard Water Ruin My Dishwasher?
While hard water won’t ruin your dishwasher, it may cause it to have a decreased life span. Furthermore, have you noticed water spots on your dishes? This is likely caused by hard water drying on your glasses. You may also be worried that the hard water will lead to buildup inside your dishwasher and other appliances. Unfortunately, hard water can cause blockages or reduced water flow in your appliances over time.
Hard water may cause other appliances to clog, including:
- Coffee makers
- Teak kettles
- Automatic water dispensers
- Shower and sink fixtures
- Water heater
Though scale from hard water can cause buildups or clogs in your home appliances, it is a problem that is easily solved. In addition to installing a water softener, you can also use a rinse aid and turn on the heated dry setting when running your dishwasher. This will help prevent the water from sticking to your dishes, while the high-temperature drying can further help prevent water spots.
How Can Hard Water Issues Be Solved?
The effects of hard water can be challenging to deal with, but they are relatively easy to fix. The most effective solution is to have a water softener installed at your home. Water softeners work to remove the minerals from the hard water, which are then replaced with salt ions, making the water “soft.”
It is common for many cities with hard water to provide water softening services at the municipal source to help remedy some of the effects for consumers. However, you may wish to soften your water further. But how do you know if you need additional water softening?
Quality Home Services can help you answer this question by testing the water in your home. If your water is hard enough to warrant a water softener, we will tell you. We can also help you select the right softener for your situation and provide you with professional installation services.
If you are struggling with hard water, reach out to Quality Home Services. We offer professional water softening services to help you solve your hard water problems today.