Making Your Home Beautiful

It's not uncommon to have hard water issues if you are on well water. The cause is increased minerals in the water, typically calcium, iron, and lime. Although not a health hazard, it can still be a problem. The repercussions of living with hard water including the following three problems.

#1: Damaged plumbing devices

Damage to your plumbing from hard water is not uncommon. The minerals can calcify on shower heads and inside taps, requiring time consuming cleaning or full replacement. Mineralization is also hard on hot water heaters, where the buildup can shorten the life of a tank water heater. Appliances, like coffee makers and dishwashers, can also be more prone to clogging or breaking down. Even worse, mineralization can destroy your well pump, which means you are without flowing water in your home until you repair or replace the pump. In extreme cases, the minerals can even build up inside your pipes and cause water blockages. Installing a whole house water softener can help prevent nearly all of these issues.

#2: Stain issues

Staining can also be an issue with hard water, particularly if the iron levels are high. It normally first appears as an orange-ish cast, such as in the tub right after it has been drained. After awhile, dark orange or red rings may start to form around sink drains or inside appliances that use water, such as the washing machine. The stains can even transfer to clothing, which is why it's not uncommon for laundry to come out of the washer with orange, brown, or yellow stains if you have hard water. Beyond iron stains, white crusty buildup and water spots on shower walls is also common if you have hard water.

#3: Cleanliness problems

One overlooked side effect of hard water is when it comes to cleaning. The minerals in hard water tend to leave behind a residue. This residue can leave hair looking lifeless and flat after a shower. It can even result in dry skin irritation. The residue also affects the cleanliness of other items in the home. Dishes, for example, will usually have hard water residue or spots on them, which may necessitate scrubbing by hand and hand drying to remove. Even laundry detergent can't work as well to clean in hard water.

Talk to a contractor today about having a water softener installed. This can remedy all of the above problems and increase the lifespan of your plumbing and appliances.