What is hard water and why does it matter?
In certain areas, your home may be affected by water hardness, a concern for many homeowners due to its impact on water quality. Water hardness arises from elevated levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, along with other natural elements found in the soil that water picks up as it flows.
Is water high in minerals safe to drink?
Yes, it is, but it can pose significant issues in your home. While not a health hazard, the effects of hard water manifest as crusty buildup in water pipes, boilers, hot-water heating systems, and other water-utilizing equipment. You may also observe reduced effectiveness in cleaning laundry or dishes, requiring more soap for sufficient suds.
Effects of Water Hardness:
- Scaling: Minerals in hard water form scale deposits inside pipes and appliances, reducing water flow, appliance efficiency, and increasing energy consumption, resulting in higher utility bills.
- Soap and Detergent Performance: Hard water reacts with soaps and detergents, forming soap scum that diminishes cleaning effectiveness, leading to increased soap or detergent usage and higher costs.
- Appliance Longevity: Scale buildup in water-using appliances, particularly water heaters, can reduce lifespan and raise maintenance costs, causing decreased efficiency and eventual failure.
- Skin and Hair Effects: Hard water may cause dryness and irritation to skin and hair, making it challenging to rinse out soap and shampoo, leaving a residue.
- Laundry Concerns: Clothes washed in hard water may seem dull and feel stiff due to soap scum buildup, also contributing to faster color fading.
How to Assess Water Hardness:
Various methods can assess water hardness. For the most accurate results and screening for potential health risks, have your water sample analyzed by an independent certified laboratory.
How can I treat hard water?
To address the issues associated with hard water, many people install water softeners to remove calcium and magnesium ions from the water. This process effectively “softens” the water and helps fix the problems caused by hard water.
There are a number of different solutions for this problem. U.S. Water is proud to offer top-of-the-line water softeners at affordable prices. Systems are sized to fit your water treatment needs, so you never pay for more than what you need.
Our team of local Wisconsin water treatment experts is friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. We work hard to make sure that all your questions are answered and your home or business’ water problems are solved.