Nobody wants to be told there could be something wrong with their water. In fact, it may even be hard for you to believe something is, in fact, wrong with your water. After all, doesn’t it go through heavy filtration at the water treatment plant in your city? Well, yes, but the water has many miles to travel from that plant before it reaches your faucets, and in that time can pick up a number of particles, including minerals that lead to hard water.
Hard water is a name given to water that has high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and even sometimes iron in it. These minerals are not harmful to ingest. However, they can absolutely affect your quality of life. Hard water can be managed with a water softener as it enters the home. Water softeners are just one of the many water treatment options in Waterloo, IA we offer. How do you know if you need one, though? By checking for the following signs in your home:
Soap Scum and Limescale Buildup around Your Drains
No, this doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job at keeping things clean. Soap scum can build up very quickly in your bathtub and sink drains due to hard water. What happens is that the minerals prevent soap from dissolving as easily as it normally would.
The same can be said for limescale, but limescale is even more insidious. The same type of buildup you see outside of the faucet is happening inside it as well, and is happening in your pipes. Slowly over time, the mineral deposits continue to build up, restricting the volume inside of the pipes. You might need to replace your faucet and your water pipes a lot sooner than you expected to if this buildup isn’t addressed.
Water Spots on Glassware Out of the Dishwasher
Water spots that appear on glasses and dishes after you run the through the dishwasher can definitely be from the minerals in your water supply. These water spots aren’t harmful, but they are definitely still an annoyance, and can indicate your dishwasher is slowly accumulating damage from the same hard water molecules that block pipes and eventually cost homeowners hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
You Don’t Feel Refreshed After Showering
Many people describe the feeling of dull, raw skin and slimy hair after taking a shower. These same people may not experience the same problem at a friend’s house or hotel room, even if they’re using the same soap and shampoo. What’s likely happening is that hard water is preventing your shampoo and soap from breaking down and completely dissolving, so it doesn’t fully leave your skin or your hair when you finish up your shower.
Your Clothes Don’t Last Long
Did you know that a washing machine with hard water is harsher on your clothes than a washing machine without this problem? Hard water causes fabrics to fade and break down faster.
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.