What Hard Water Does to Your Home’s Plumbing

Unlike some naturally occurring home concerns, such as mold, hard water does not affect human or animal health. It does, however, damage plumbing pipes, fixtures, and appliances.

Hard Water Defined

Hard water contains dissolved magnesium ions and calcium, called hardness minerals. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 85 percent of U.S. homes receive hard water from their municipal supply or well. The excess mineral content causes the buildup of scale in plumbing. 

Plumbing Problems Hard Water Causes

Where does this excessive scale buildup occur? Scale deposits develop inside water pipes and faucet fixtures. It also develops in boiler and hot-water heating system interiors. Over time, these deposits block parts from functioning properly and create pipe blockages. Appliances no longer function effectively or with appropriate efficiency. 

According to Bob Vila, hard water also damages the appearance of your bathroom and kitchen fixtures, leaving soap scum rings on the tub, shower, and sink. Hard water spots develop on faucets, spigots, and other plumbing fixtures. 

Other Hard Water Problems

Besides the unsightly damage and appliance efficiency downgrades, hard water causes other problems, too. It doesn’t easily make suds, requiring more soap or shampoo to clean the body and hair. Using hard water to wash the laundry or dishes requires added laundry or dish soap. Despite using more soap, the hard water does a less effective job cleaning dishes and laundry. It can cause clothes to fade prematurely.

Hard water proves tough to use to rinse away soap residue. Bathing with it leaves soap residue on a person’s hair and skin. This residue causes dry and itchy skin, according to The Spruce.

Testing for Hard Water

Contact Florida’s Plumber Near Me if you suspect your home has hard water. We’ll test your water to determine its hardness. If we find that your home does have hard water, we’ll recommend a water softener system or a whole house filtration system, like Halo Five. A water softener runs the tap water through a filtration tank filled with resin beads that trap minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, reducing the minerals in the water. A whole home filtration system removes all minerals and biological contaminants using a sediment or UV filter. 

Contact Us Today

Fix your hard water problems today. Call Plumber Near Me at (407) 565-7118 for an appointment or emergency plumbing repairs. We serve Sanford, FL, and the surrounding area with 24/7 plumbing services. Let us help you fix your hard water problems.