Identifying Indicators of Hard Water at Home and Solutions for Its Remedy
In many homes, hard water wreaks havoc due to its high mineral content, such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. This mineral overload leads to a multitude of issues, including unsightly limescale on fixtures, reduced water flow, dry skin and hair, and faded clothes.
But worry not! If you're on the lookout for signs that your home is plagued with hard water, take a gander at this informative guide that will help you identify the problem and provide you with five easy-peasy solutions to combat it.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Nathan Hudelson, the owner of Schlueter Plumbing, a seasoned master plumber with over 18 years under his toolbelt. He lends his expertise to residential and commercial plumbing projects, including sewer repair, water heater installation, trenchless water services, and more.
8 Clues Your Home has Hard Water
Keep an eye out for these signs that could suggest you're dealing with hard water:
1. Evident Limescale
If you spot white or chalky residue forming around showerheads, sink faucets, and other water-using appliances, don't be surprised: your home might very well have hard water. "You'll notice staining on surfaces where the water has dried, typically quite visible around faucet aerators, coffee pots, clear glasses, and shower doors," says Nathan Hudelson, the master plumber behind Schlueter Plumbing.
2. Soap Scum Galore
If you're seeing some soap scum buildup within your water-using appliances or on surfaces such as the bathtub, shower walls, and sinks, it might be an indication of hard water. Struggling to create proper soap lather? That might be a telling sign too!
3. Skin and Hair Hassles
Dry skin and hair from time to time could be due to low humidity or certain products, but if you find yourself dealing with it frequently, it could be a byproduct of hard water.
4. High Water Hardness Test Results
Although anecdotal evidence can be helpful, the most reliable method for confirming hard water is to perform a water hardness test. "A water hardness test kit is the most accurate way to tell how hard the water is," Hudelson says. "Anything over 17 ppm (parts per million) is considered slightly hard. In my experience, you start seeing stronger signs of hardness when the results show 20-25 ppm."
5. Laundry Jeopardy
Hard water doesn't just wreak havoc on your hair and skin; it can also negatively affect your clothes, towels, and linens. The high mineral content in the water tends to make laundry feel stiff after washing and may even speed up color loss or fading.
6. Decreased Water Pressure
The minerals in your water supply don't just flit through your home's pipes; they also adhere to the interior, gradually reducing the size of the water pipes. If this occurs, you might notice that the water pressure in certain areas or throughout the home decreases.
5 Ways to Combat Hard Water
If you've detected hard water issues in your home, give these tactics a whirl:
1. Water Softener Installation
Water softeners are designed to eliminate the minerals that make water hard, effectively eradicating hard water problems. "While there are numerous systems available, a traditional water softener that uses salt is the most efficient solution, in my opinion," Hudelson says.
2. Showerhead and Faucet Filters
If your home is grappling with mild hard water, a terrific way to lessen the impact is by installing showerhead and faucet filters. These filters catch excess minerals before the water streams into the shower or sink, providing relief from those pesky mineral deposits. Remember, though, that filters require regular cleaning or replacement.
3. Clean Your Plumbing Fixtures with Baking Soda or Vinegar
Another smart strategy for addressing mild hard water issues is to clean your plumbing fixtures with baking soda or vinegar. Baking soda, with its alkaline properties, serves as a temporary softening agent, while vinegar excels at dissolving mineral deposits in showerheads and faucets. "To naturally minimize the effects of hard water, clean places that have scale buildup with vinegar," Hudelson recommends.
4. Adjust Your Water Heater's Temperature
The temperature of your water can impact hard water scaling and mineral buildup. This is due to the mineral precipitation process, which accelerates the rate at which scale accumulates from hard water. Reduce the water heater's temperature to slow down this process. Don't forget to clean the water heater regularly to remove any accumulated sediment.
5. Add a Magnetic Water Conditioner
Like water softeners, magnetic water conditioners control the hardness of water in your home. But rather than eliminating the minerals from the water, these devices make the minerals soluble in the water. This ensures the minerals don't cling to the insides of the water pipes or create unsightly mineral deposits on various plumbing fixtures throughout the home. Do bear in mind that magnetic water conditioners aren't as effective as full water softeners, making them more suited for homes with mild hard water issues.
- The presence of white or chalky residue around showerheads, sink faucets, and other water-using appliances could indicate hard water in your home, as described by Nathan Hudelson, a seasoned plumber.
- If you notice soap scum buildup within your water-using appliances or on surfaces such as bathtubs, shower walls, and sinks, it might be a sign of hard water, similar to struggling to create proper soap lather.
- Reoccurring dry skin and hair might be due to hard water, which has a high mineral content, according to Hudelson's guide to identifying hard water issues.
- To confirm the presence of hard water, perform a water hardness test. As Hudelson suggests, anything over 17 ppm (parts per million) is considered slightly hard, and you'll start seeing stronger signs of hardness when the results show 20-25 ppm.
- A water softener installation is an effective solution in eliminating minerals that make water hard, helping combat hard water problems, according to Hudelson's expert advice.
