It might surprise you, but all water is not the same. Perhaps you’ve heard of hard water and soft water, but you’re still not quite sure what it all means. This is a very important question because 85% of the water in the United States is hard water, and you may have begun to suspect that it isn’t the best thing for you and your family. Let’s examine this issue in detail.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water that contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium. Although these are good for the human body in small quantities, they are not particularly good for washing. Specifically, bathing in hard water leads to dry skin, and washing your hair in it leads to a dry scalp. Hard water disturbs the natural pH balance of your skin. When the pH of your skin is balanced, it provides a protective barrier against infections and bacteria.
Hard water also causes other negative results. It could be the reason your water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, and shower head all succumb to early deaths. That’s because the mineral deposits left within these appliances and components accumulate as scale, crusting and clogging both interior and exterior surfaces. Therefore, hard water causes you to spend more of your money on new appliances than soft water does.
Is Hard Water Contaminated?
No. Merely containing more minerals does not make hard water contaminated. To be contaminated, water would need to have high levels of bacteria or germs. Water purification is different issue.
What Are the Signs of Hard Water?
You may believe you have hard water but wonder how you would determine for certain. Several states are known to have the hardest water. They include California, Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas. If you live in one of these, make a point of checking for the following signs of hard water
Reduced Water Pressure
Low water pressure in your home is one possible indication of hard water. That’s because mineral deposits remain in the pipes and leave the water less room to flow through.
Mineral Stains on Your Clean Clothes
Right after you take your clothes out of the washing machine, do you notice stains on them? That’s another symptom. The fact that hard water is so harsh also causes clothing washed in it to wear out faster.
A Film on Your Hands After Washing Them
When soap and calcium interact, they create soap scum. This means that you must rinse your hands for a longer period of time after you wash with hard water.
What Is Soft Water?
Soft water is water that does not contain much dissolved magnesium, iron, or calcium. It does contain sodium ions. Soft water is highly beneficial to you because it doesn’t deposit minerals into your plumbing system or cause clogs. Because of this, minerals cannot reduce your water pressure.
Why Do You Need a Softening System?
Washing with hard water causes soap film to be left behind. When you wash with soft water, this doesn’t happen. It keeps your washing machine, sinks, and bathtubs cleaner. When you take your glasses out of the dishwasher, you will notice that there aren’t as many spots on them. The fact that soft water does not leave mineral deposits in your appliances will make them last longer. It will prevent mineral deposits from forming in your water heater, fixtures, and pipes.
How Does Water-Softening Work?
When water enters the water-softening system, it travels through resin that contains positively charged sodium ions. The sodium begins to take the place of calcium and magnesium in the water. To make sure that your water-softening system continues to work at peak performance, you must maintain a regular maintenance schedule.
Is it Safe to Soften Water?
Softening water adds sodium ions to the liquid, so if a member of your family is on a low-sodium diet, you must determine how much sodium a potential water softening system will add to your water. For most people in most areas, this isn’t a problem, but if you are concerned about your blood pressure, you ought to speak to your physician before you purchase a water-softening system.
At Loyalty Plumbing in Las Vegas, our plumbers can help you select the best water treatment system, but our services don’t end there. We can also offer you a complete array of plumbing services, including repiping, help with clogged drains, leak detection, and tankless water heaters.
To learn more about a new water softening system, call Loyalty Plumbing today, and we’ll arrange a consultation!
