You could have hard or soft water in your home – and chances are, it’s the former. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 85 percent of the country has hard water, and in Utah, the percentage is certainly much higher.
If you’re not sure how hard and soft water differ, you’re not alone. Here, the Kinetico Utah team shares the answer and explains how to know what type of water is flowing through your taps.
Hard Water
When rain falls from the sky, it’s naturally soft. As it works its way through the earth and into our groundwater, it picks up minerals like magnesium and calcium – and this turns it from soft to hard water.
The higher the concentration of minerals, the higher the ranking on the hardness scale. And while hard water isn’t harmful to ingest, using it for showering can lead to dry skin and hair. It can also affect your faucets, fixtures, pipes and water-using appliances.
Soft Water
Soft water doesn’t have a high concentration of harsh minerals. As such, it’s gentler on your body. And, using it won’t result in issues with your plumbing or household appliances.
Most Utah homeowners aren’t lucky enough to have naturally soft water. Fortunately, hardness is easily dealt with – a water softening system works to remove the magnesium and calcium, thereby making the household supply soft.
What Type of Water Do You Have?
You can’t tell whether you have hard or soft water by looking at it. But, you can watch for the telltale signs of hardness. These include:
- Cloudy spots or film on your dishes
- Scale buildup on your faucets and fixtures
- White or cream colored stains in the toilets and sinks
- Dull, flat hair and dry, itchy skin
- Clothes that feel rough or look dingy after a few washes
If you’ve noticed any of the above, checking with the professional team at Kinetico Utah is your next step. We’ll come out to your home, complete a customized analysis of your household supply and suggest treatment options to meet your needs.
When hardness is a problem, installing a softener is the solution. However, softening systems don’t remove impurities, pollutants or contaminants – and if you have any of those, installing a reverse osmosis system is the best way to get clean, safe and delicious drinking water. Many Utah homeowners choose to install both types of systems, and you may benefit by doing the same.
Kinetico is a trusted industry leader, known for manufacturing top-quality water softeners and reverse osmosis systems. And here at Kinetico Utah, we have a solid reputation as well as many loyal customers. To arrange for a free, no-obligation consultation and find out if you have hard or soft water, contact us online or give our office in Draper, Utah, a call today.