Hard water and soft water are two terms that may come to mind, especially when researching the quality of the water coming from your faucets. It is easy to notice the taste of the water we drink, but there are several other issues that arise when hard water flows through your pipes.
Water samples from West Texas have consistently ranked as some of the hardest water in the country. Luckily, Kinetico Water Systems provides several options to improve the water quality in your home. If you’re curious about what’s in your water, check out ewg.com.
Read on to find out what hard water is, the problems it can create, and how to deal with it.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water with excess dissolved minerals, typically calcium and magnesium. Its commonly found in areas with limestone, gypsum, especially when pumped from a domestic well. Drinking hard water may not threaten your health but it can wreak havoc on things it touches. It can stain sinks and showers or accumulate deposits in appliances and pipes, making them less efficient over time.
The Problems Hard Water Can Create
Using hard water comes with several side effects, including:
- Skin Irritation – Homeowners using hard water to wash clothes by hand or take a bath may experience dry, itchy skin. This is because hard water typically leaves behind the soap, which causes skin irritation.
- Dingy Laundry – Water with high mineral content reduces the effectiveness of cleaning agents like soap, making them less effective at removing stains, leaving clothes looking yellowish-gray and dingy. Plus, the more they’re washed, the more their colors will fade.
- It Can Be Slow To Fill a Glass of Water – Nothing feels worse than having slow running water when you need to get things done quickly. High mineral deposits in hard water can clog the inside of pipes and make water run slower. Things can get worse over time as the minerals continue to accumulate.
- Spotty Glasses and Dishes – Homeowners using hard water will notice cloudy spots on glasses, dishes, and flatware no matter how much rinse aid they add to their dishwasher.
How To Deal With Hard Water
Getting rid of complex water problems is a priority for most homeowners. Here are several ways to deal with the issue of hard water.
- Use Washing Soda for Laundry – When doing laundry, consider using washing soda since it contains sodium carbonate that softens the hardness of the water.
- Use White Vinegar – Apply white vinegar to fixtures to dissolve mineral scale. The acid in nature reacts with calcium to form a neutral solution that removes the stains. This can be applied by either spraying surfaces with a diluted solution or dipping items with limescale in a container with vinegar for an hour.
- Install a Water Softener – The easiest, most convenient way to fix hard water is to install a water softener. Hard water is softened by removing the hardness minerals in the water through a process called ion exchange. Your water-using appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters will work better and last longer when used with soft water. Your skin and hair will also stay soft and shiny with conditioned, soft water. Your soaps, body washes and shampoos will lather better and last longer in soft water.
Contact the Water Experts at Kinetico Today!
For help testing your water and determining how to mitigate even the most challenging water issues, contact the experts at Kinetico of West Texas. We have solutions from under-the-counter drinking water systems, to whole house water treatment systems. Call us today!
