Effects of Hard Water on Your Home

Do you have hard water in your home? Although you may have heard the term before, few homeowners are actually aware what hard water is and what effects it can have on your home. If you suspect that your home might be experiencing hard water, it’s important that you find out for sure so that you can address the issue before it gets out of hand.

Here is some information about the effects of hard water on your home and what you can do to fix the issue.

What is Hard Water?

Having hard water simply means that the water provided to your home has a high mineral content. The two minerals that are the typical cause of hard water are calcium and magnesium. Alone, these two minerals are typically harmless, but when they combine in your pipes they create a substance called scale that can cause serious damage to your plumbing system.

As scale builds up, your water pressure goes down, as there is less area for the water to flow through. Eventually pipes can become clogged with scale and need to be cleaned out. Although it’s clear how serious this can be for your plumbing, hard water can do other damage to your home.

Appliances are at Risk

Ever wonder why your dishes have a strange film on them when you take them out of the dishwasher? Ever notice a strange white residue in your coffee pot or tea pots? Those are all effects of hard water.

Similarly to how hard water can cause can build up in your pipes, it can also deposit minerals in your appliances. This can lead to quickly degraded performance and even eventually break the system entirely.

Any appliance that water passes through might be at risk for damage from hard water. Water heaters and washing machines, both of experience high volumes of water circulation, should be considered high risk appliances if your home suffers from hard water.

Tubs, Sinks and Tiles

Another area of concern if you are experiencing hard water are the sinks, bathtubs and showers in your home, all of which can be damaged by hard water.

Shower tiles and tubs where water sits for some amount of time can easily be damaged by hard water. The nice bright finish of your tile can become fogged and faded due to hard water deposits. The same goes for your sink and your tubs. Hard water makes all of these areas look dingy and dirty instead of clean and bright.

Soaps and Detergents Are Less Effective

Hard water prevents lathering, and those bubbles help get things clean. Without good lather, people end up using more soap for showering and more detergent for doing dishes. This can increase your water bill and also drive up the costs for the detergents themselves as you tend to use more.

Address the Effects of Hard Water Right Away

Left unaddressed, hard water can cause a tremendous amount of damage to almost every major system in your home. From your plumbing, to your appliances, hard water can result in mineral build-up and long term damage that can result in expensive repair costs. Fixing the effects of hard water early on can save you big money down the line and make sure that your home’s plumbing stays working the way you need.