If you’ve never heard the phrase hard water before, it can sound a little ominous. It can certainly create problems! The good news is, hard water is not harmful to ingest. It is, however, harmful to your plumbing system over time.
You see, hard water is water with a high presence of mineral content in it. Namely, we’re talking about calcium, magnesium, and in many cases iron. These are natural minerals, and again, not harmful to you. But the problem is that they create build-up called scaling, and this can impact your plumbing and anything that relies on the water in your home, negatively affecting your quality of life. Read on to learn some of the signs that you could benefit from the installation of a whole-home water softener!
You’ve Noticed Limescale Buildup on Plumbing Fixtures
Have you discovered limescale buildup around the drains in your home? This is typically a pretty clear sign that you have hard water coursing through your plumbing system, Mineral deposits show up on faucets, showerheads, and even on appliances that use water like your dishwasher or your coffee maker. This buildup is unsightly, and can make your water taste gross–but most of all it can damage your plumbing over time, since the buildup can lead to eventual corrosion.
You Have Dry Skin and Hair After Showering
When humidity is low in the air, you might notice that you have excessively dry skin, and that your hair has a bit of static electricity. If relative humidity levels are between 30-50% or higher in your home and this is still occurring though, it may be hard water to blame. Hard water has trouble breaking down most sops and shampoos, and when that happens the residue left behind can seep moisture from your skin and hair.
You Have Faded Clothing
Sure, after years and years of wearing the same jeans on a weekly basis, they’re going to fade. That’s normal! What’s not normal is that everything in your laundry seems to be fading after a few months. This is a sign of hard water having an impact on your laundry.
You Have Stained Sinks and Bathtubs
The mineral deposits left over from hard water–limescale–can begin to stain your bathtubs and sinks. Sure, it’s easy to clean off, but this isn’t a sign you should brush off. Whatever build up you see on the outside is also happening on the inside, and leaving it unaddressed can also leave you with drain clogs and backups.
You Need Frequent Plumbing Repairs
Steel pipes aren’t great at managing hard water. They can become damaged due to the buildup of minerals–and the water flow will eventually be affected to, causing corrosion and other pipe problems, leading to call for drain cleaning and pipe repairs often.
You Might See a Rise in Your Utility Bills
Since hard water buildup can cause corrosion to your pipes, it’s possible that small pinhole leaks will form, and that you’ll lose water as a result. But, this is water you’re still paying for! You deserve to get the most out of it.
Contact Performance Plumbing to install your water softener in St. Louis, MO today!