Hard water problems (with mineral content above the norm) can be a real problem, especially for new homeowners who may be unfamiliar with the problems it causes. Solving these problems can greatly improve your family’s quality of life and get things back to normal.

So what is hard water?

We all learned in school that water is H2O – two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom make up a water molecule, right? What many of us don’t realize is that additives can get into the water we drink. Some of them are completely safe to consume, while other water contaminants can negatively affect your family’s health. But tap water is by no means 100% pure H20.

Hard water is mainly water that contains a high number of minerals. Groundwater often seeps through limestone where it picks up calcium and magnesium.

Drinking water can also contain trace minerals such as iron, which it picks up from soil, lakes and rivers – even erosion. In some regions, hard water may contain manganese or aluminum.

Of course, minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron are not necessarily bad for you. In fact, they are actually nutritious and beneficial. However, hard water sediments can also carry potentially harmful bacteria with them. A 2014 study found that drinking water scale is directly responsible for bacterial growth in drinking water.

If your home receives water from a well, you most likely have hard water. But this is not just a rural issue.

Here are eight potential problems that cause heavy water. Are any of them familiar to you?

With hard water, you may find yourself cleaning the bathroom and kitchen more often and using more cleaning products to get the job done. Who wants to do that?

Getting weird spots?

Unsightly or reddish stains on porcelain are a major embarrassment.

You can also blame hard water for this, especially iron.

It is no coincidence that they

The spots look a lot like rust spots. Iron in your home’s water can come from rusted pipes.

You will need a strong polish to get rid of those stains

Some people suggest using vinegar to help clean and remove them. Unfortunately, stains will continue to reappear until you fix your hard water problem.

You are constantly cleaning the soap scum

Another unsightly issue is the appearance of those white, hard spots. This is what you get when water evaporates and leaves calcium deposits behind.

When you have hard water, you will notice that the raw amount of soap seems to accumulate all over the place.

This is because the soap and minerals in hard water just don’t melt well together.

If your dishes are always stained, it’s not you or your dishwasher, it’s probably your water. What’s worse – the amount of soap left on shower curtains can lead to the development of a microbial biofilm that can contain disease-causing bacteria.

With hard water, you may find yourself cleaning the bathroom and kitchen more often and using more cleaning products to get the job done. Who wants to do that?

Problems with your shower

The shower is your time to escape the world for ten minutes by washing away dirt and worries. But when you have hard water, shower time can be ruined. As we mentioned, minerals cause hard water to react ineffectively with soap

This makes it harder to get a good amount when washing. It also makes it harder to wash all the lather off your body, leaving some soapy residue on your skin.

Deposits from hard water can also clog your shower head. This means weak water pressure.

With hard water, you may not feel as clean and you may notice your hair is difficult to manage. Yes, hard water can also be responsible for bad hair days.

Your pipes often get blocked

Shower sets aren’t the only things that can get clogged with hard water. This can cause major plumbing problems.

Clots build up inside your pipes, like plaque inside an artery, restricting water flow, eventually leading to backups and the need to call a plumber for help.

If you have PVC or copper pipes, this is probably not an issue. It is most common with older steel pipes.

Your clothes are not washing well

Hard water can have a negative impact on laundry – and again – this is all due to the close relationship of minerals such as calcium and magnesium with soaps and detergents.

Soap is used to wash to remove dirt, but when the soap is not rinsed out, it can increase the dirt on your clothes.

Clothes washed in heavy water often appear dull and wear out faster. You can also make your own old and heavy towels.

When you have hard water, you may need to purchase cleaners formulated to soften the water for you. However, you will likely need to use more cleaning detergents (and hot water) to remove them from your clothes. It is also advised that people with hard water use four times more detergent.

Plus, just as the iron stains your bathroom fixtures, it can also stain your clothes. Premature yellowing of your whites can be caused by the iron content in the water. When combined with bleach, iron oxidizes, and iron oxide is just another name for rust.

Your family has problems with skin irritation

Because washing in hard water will leave soap behind, it causes people’s skin to become dry and itchy.

Mineral deposits left on the body can also absorb moisture from your skin.

Skin eczema is quite common, especially in young children.

There is research showing that baths with hard water can cause eczema symptoms to worsen.

Another study concluded that exposure to hard water may increase the risk of developing eczema in elementary-aged children.

Your devices are frequently damaged

This may be the most expensive water problem of all.

Mold can cause problems in many appliances in your home, from the washing machine to the hot water heater (boiler).

Build-up of sediment in the water heater can make it much less efficient. The same goes for other devices. Poor efficiency means higher utility bills.

14 Dec, 2020