Many homeowners have hard water coming from their taps and don’t even know it. They struggle to look for solutions and products to remove the hard water deposits and stains left behind from the untreated water without knowing the only proper answer is installing a water softener.
Hard water creates a cleaning nightmare and can cause skin and hair issues.
Here, we’ll discuss the difference between hard and soft water, additional signs that you may have a hard water problem, and how you can soften the water you use daily.
Soft Water vs. Hard Water
The difference between soft water and hard water is the mineral content. As water is delivered through a piping system, it can collect minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and others.
Hard water has a high concentration of these minerals. Soft water has a low concentration of these minerals, as well as sodium, which helps break them down. Hard water makes it difficult for soap to lather up and provide a good cleaning for your skin, hair, and home.
3 Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home
Without a water quality analysis, it can be challenging to tell if your home has a hard water issue.
Look for these signs:
Your Laundry Is Never Truly Clean
When you do laundry, you expect your clothes and towels to feel and smell soft and clean afterward. This may not be the case when you have a hard water problem.
The minerals in hard water can make it hard for detergents and soap to lather up during the wash. It’s difficult for your clothes to get clean and soft, and you’ll notice that your whites will yellow over time with hard water.
You See Scale Deposits or Soap Scum
Hard water causes a thin white film to develop on washed items. For example, when you wash your dishes and let them air dry, you may see a white residue and spots. This is from the minerals left behind by hard water.
This hard-to-clean film can be seen on dishes, silverware, tiles, water fixtures, shower doors, and other areas that are exposed to hard water.
You Have Itchy, Dry, or Irritated Skin
Washing your skin and hair with hard water can also feel different than washing with soft water. Hard water can leave your skin feeling dry, itchy, or irritated over time. The calcium and magnesium in hard water can cause an adverse reaction to the skin, causing these issues.
This can especially be a problem for those with sensitive skin. Not to mention the buildup on your scalp that can cause itchiness. Washing your hair in hard water prevents moisture from getting into it, which will break down your hair and make it dry.
If these signs sound familiar, you may need a water softener.
What Can You Do To Fix Hard Water in Your Home?
It can be challenging to resolve hard water issues, but it’s not impossible. First, you need to know how hard your water is. If you truly have hard water, all the home remedies will not work. Like boiling your water and allowing it to cool before using it for cleaning can help dissolve some of the minerals.
Cleaning formulas for laundry and household help break down the minerals and make cleaning more manageable, but they can be expensive. Adding distilled vinegar to your dishwasher detergent can also balance out the base-heavy hard water due to the acidic nature of the vinegar.
The best solution for hard water problems is to find out how hard the water is with a water quality analysis test, which will tell you if you should install a water softening system.
These units will consistently remove the hardness from the water, helping break down hard water elements and making your water more neutral.
Call M.E. Flow for Water Softener Installation in Northern VA
The team at M.E. Flow offers a free in-home water quality analysis to test the actual hardness of your water. M.E. Flow has helped many homeowners fix their water problems by installing water softeners throughout Northern Virginia.
These systems will soften your water before it reaches your tap, making it easier for you to clean your clothes, dishes, and more. A water softener will also protect your pipes and water-using appliances from the damaging effects of hard water buildup.
Our team of expert plumbers can assess your water situation and install a system that fits your needs.
Contact M.E. Flow to request a free in-home water quality test and learn more about installing a water softener.