Hard water contains a considerable amount of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, whereas soft water is treated water which contains only sodium. Rainwater is naturally soft in nature. However, when it seeps into the ground and mixes with minerals, there is a change in its nature as it becomes hard. Hard water is not considered healthy for daily use, including activities like bathing, doing dishes, washing clothes, and more. Clothes washed in hard water become dingy. Our hair also loses shine and becomes rough and dry.
It is very important that you understand the properties of the water you receive at your home to take precautionary actions. Here are a few signs that you will come across if you are receiving hard water:
Dry Skin And Hair
Hard water contains an excess of calcium and magnesium. These minerals settle on your skin, making it itchy and dry. Soaps are not able to remove these minerals from your skin as they fail to dissolve in water. Hard water also blocks pores. This causes inflammations and blackheads. A water softener removes the excess minerals from the water. With the excess minerals removed, the water is fit for use.
Clothes Become Grey And Faded
The excess minerals in hard water keep settling on the fabrics and gradually damage them. Clothes regularly washed in hard water fade over time. The clothes lose their softness and look shabby. Adding water softeners before every wash helps to maintain the softness of the fabric. It also ensures that your clothes will not wear off in a short period.
Stains On Sinks And Bathtubs
When hard water evaporates, it leaves behind a layer of magnesium and calcium. The residue that collects overtime often leaves stains or is hard to remove. The process leads to the formation of plaster-like deposits. However, these deposits or stains can be removed using bleach. The best way is to add potassium chloride water softener to get rid of the stains permanently.
Your Glassware Becomes Brittle
The excess minerals in hard water make the glassware brittle and more prone to breaking. Powdered soap are abrasive and should be avoided when washing the dishes. Powdered soap doesn’t dissolve in hard water as well and hence fails to remove the settled minerals on the glass. A water softener helps to clean the glassware without any mineral deposits on the glass.
Plumbing Needs Constant Repair
If hard water is flowing through the steel pipes installed at your place, they are easily damaged due to excess deposit of limescale. An increase in limescale deposits in the pipes restricts the flow of water. Limescale deposited around the valves results in leaky taps. In such a case, you need regular plumbing repair, which is costly.
To know more about water softeners, get in touch with our experts at Snell Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning. Our team will suggest the best solution to deal with the hard water problem.
