A simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved minerals in the water. Hard water is very high in dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. There are no serious adverse health problems associated with drinking hard water, but it typically does not taste as good as soft water and it can have devastating effects on plumbing and other appliances in your home.
Learn more about hard water below, and contact our plumbers at Richco Plumbing at 805-484-1297 for water quality expertise you can trust.
Here are 4 signs that you may have hard water in your home:
- Scale Buildup – Most homeowners are familiar with a particular type of scale called lime scale. It forms a distinctive white crust and you may notice it on sinks, tubs, faucets & appliances around your home. It can also affect the softness of your laundry. Scale build up is not ideal for appliances as it wears them down and may reduce their effectiveness over time.
- Soap doesn’t lather – The minerals in hard water can prevent soap from lathering properly in your hands, and instead creates a feeling of a film on your hands after washing. You may feel you need to rinse your hands longer in order to remove this film. Hard water does the same thing to your clothes – you may notice your clothing and towels are dull and not soft.
- Rust – Large rust stains on toilets or tubs are a sign of hard water.
- Decreased water pressure – Calcium and magnesium build up in your pipes can reduce the water flow and lower the water pressure.
In conclusion, most people can drink hard water without it affecting their health, but it may be a problem for your plumbing system, reduce the life of appliances around your home, and may adversely affect the quality of your clothing and other linens.
Contact Richco Plumbing today for more information on what to do about hard water in your home: 805-484-1297
