5 Indications That Your Water is Hard

clothes hanging

5 Indications That Your Water is Hard

 

The water that comes through your tap might not be the best water for your skin, clothes, appliances, and pipes. The vast majority of homes in the U.S. have “hard” water filled with minerals that can take its toll on your daily life. Fortunately you don’t have to suffer the negative consequences of hard water because water softeners will reduce or eliminate the minerals that are making that water so hard. Here are five sure signs that you need a water softener system and should call a water softening company.

 

1: White Residue Everywhere

 

If everything that comes in contact with your water has a white residue on it after a while, it’s probably the result of minerals from hard water. Check out your coffee pots, pots and pans for cooking, and even your shower tiles and bathtub for signs of stains, rings, or white filmy residue. While this is generally not harmful to your health, it can make appliances and showers look dingy and dirty and is probably also harming the interior of your water using appliances and home fixtures.

 

2: Clothes that Still Look Dirty

 

If you are examining your whites after they come out of the washer and dryer and you find that they look a little gray and dingy, your washer might not be able to properly do its job because of hard water. You may even notice that stains and dirt are not coming out, despite several washings, or that your colors are starting to look a little dull over time.

 

3: Uncomfortable Linens

 

The minerals in hard water can actually have an impact on the fibers in your clothes and towels. If your previously soft shirts, sheets, and towels are starting to feel itchy and uncomfortable, it could be that they have become damaged from hard water. In many cases this is costing you a lot of money over time because you’re constantly buying new towels, linens, and clothes when your old ones feel uncomfortable and wear out.

 

4: Itchy Skin and Dry Hair

 

When you shower in hard water, soaps and shampoos leave behind what is called “soap scum”, a film that is difficult to rinse out of your hair and off your skin. This residue on your skin and hair often causes excessive dryness and may even harbor bacteria that leads to skin irritations and dry skin conditions.

 

5: High Repair and Water Heating Costs

 

The minerals in hard water vary by location, but generally include some mixture of calcium, magnesium, and iron. As they flow through your appliances and water heater, these minerals build up and can cause clogs or other water flow problems. That often means replacing appliances and fixtures because they don’t work properly, and it could also be impacting the proper operation of your water heater.

 

Learn more about the water filters and water softeners available at Kinetico Utah to eliminate these five problems in your home.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Water Softeners

water softener

Water softening is one of the surest ways of having clean water in your home.  As water comes in contact with the earth calcium and magnesium dissolve into the water making it hard.  A water softener removes these minerals from the water  which makes the water soft.  Hard water can cause skin to be dry and itchy.  It also leaves white spots or a film on dishes, faucets and toilets and builds up in plumbing and appliances causing them to not work as effective and shortens their life.

Here are some of the most frequently asked question about water softeners:

How Does A Water Softener Work?

The process a water softener uses to remove the minerals from water is known as ion exchange.  Calcium and magnesium are removed and replaced, or exchanged, for sodium ions The most important component of water softeners is a tank containing small polystyrene beads.  As water flows past the beads the calcium and magnesium are attracted to and attach themselves to the beads and in place of the minerals a very small amount of sodium is added to the water.  This process is instantaneous, so the water is softened as you use it in your home.

After several hundred gallons of water have been softener, the polystyrene beads become coated with  minerals and the water softener will regenerate them. This process involves running a salt brine solution across the beads and the minerals are removed and flushed down the drain. 

How much salt is added to my water?

The amount of salt added by the water softening process is very minimal and is dependent on how hard the water is.  The harder the water the more salt the water softener adds to the water.   For most of the water in the Salt Lake area there will be about 25mg of sodium added to an 8oz glass of water.  As a comparison, an 8oz glass of milk contains 125mg of sodium.  

Does Soft Water Really Feel Soft?

The “soft” in soft water doesn’t actually mean soft; it means that all the hard minerals, calcium, magnesium, etc., have been removed. If you want to know how it feels, put baking soda into hard water. It will make the water softer to touch, or more accurately, slicker.

Here’s a fun fact: You can save on bath and laundry products when using soft water. It reduces soap use, which is why many Laundromats and Hotels have water-softening systems.

Water softening is one of the most effective ways you can experience better water in your home.

Contact us for more information about quality water softeners and water filtration units in Utah.