In our previous blog post, we talked about the various signs that your water quality needs help and explored the various water treatment systems that can do the job. We’d like to expand a bit more on one of these systems–the water softener–and explain how and why your water may need softening.
The Problem with Hard Water
Hard water is what occurs when there is a high presence of minerals–namely magnesium, calcium, and sometimes iron–present in your water. These minerals aren’t harmful to ingest. However, they’re not great for your plumbing system. They lead to limescale buildup and eventual corrosion in addition to a number of other problems, including:
Dry Skin and Hair
Have you ever gotten out of the shower to discover that it felt less than refreshing? This can be because of calcium and magnesium buildup–the water isn’t able to nourish your skin and hair due to these minerals, so your skin may wind up feeling chapped and your hair may feel brittle.
Faded Clothing
Your washing machine suffers when hard water is present, too! Hard water not only can cause sediment buildup within the machine, but it also will start stripping the color away from your clothes much faster than it would otherwise.
Stained Sinks and Bathtubs
The minerals in hard water can also start staining your sinks and bathtubs. It’s relatively easy to clean off, but nobody wants to clean their bathroom every day, right?
Frequent Plumbing Repairs
If you have to call for frequent plumbing repairs, such as clogs or small leaks, you might chalk it up to old plumbing pipes. That might be the case, but it’s likely that hard water is at least partially to blame. The sediment build-up from hard water sticks to the lining of your pipes, causing corrosion and even blockages if it goes on long enough.
A Spike in Water Bills
As magnesium and calcium build up inside the pipes, your plumbing system will have to work harder to let water flow through. This can lead to a number of problems like leaks. Remember, even the most minor leak can lead to gallons of wasted water over the course of a year. This is the water you’re paying for anyway!
Unsightly Dishes
Have you ever discovered white spots on your dishes or your glassware right after removing them from the dishwasher? This is created by hard water and often leads to people feeling like they need to rewash their dishware.
Installing a Water Softener
The resolution to all the above-mentioned symptoms is simple–have a whole-house water softener installed! Remember though, this should only ever be done by a trained professional. If done incorrectly, your water softener may not be able to do its job, leaving you with wasted money and the same problem that you started with!
DeHart Plumbing, Heating, and Air Inc. is your trusted resource for the installation of a water filtration system in Modesto and much more! Contact us today.
Did you know: We are a licensed Manteca, CA plumber