Before you go on any further, yes, there’s such a thing as hard and soft water. You won’t notice it with your eyes, of course. Water will remain crystal clear, but it is also composed of minerals and chemicals. Water is hard or soft, depending on the concentration of minerals that can be found in it. Having hard water in your home is usually frustrating because it affects your plumbing fixtures, clothes, and many things. But how would you know you have a hard water problem?
If your water softener needs some repair in Salt Lake City, you will start to notice the little signs of water hardness. Primarily, the hardness of water is determined by the presence of calcium and magnesium. These two combined with other chemicals make water hard. Soft water, on the other hand, has a higher concentration of sodium or salt, which makes it unhealthy for people with certain medical conditions.
How do you tell if the water is hard? You can’t put a drop of water under a microscope every time, but there are certain signs that tell you when water is hard.
When There’s a Film on Your Hand After Washing
The film on your hand after washing is called soap scum. It’s what happens when the soap reacts with the calcium in the water. You have to rinse your hand with water longer when this occurs. There’s no need for special soap or other chemicals. Simply rinsing your hands longer will remove the scum.
When There Are White Spots on Your Silverware and Glasses
Do you notice white spots on your silverware or glasses? No matter how hard you scrub on it, they won’t go away. You will also notice them on your bathroom and kitchen fixtures. These white spots are deposits of calcium carbonate.
When There Are Mineral Stains on Your Clothes
If there’s one thing that’s most annoying about having hard water in your house is the effect it has on your clothes. You might have noticed that your clothes have mineral stains when they come out of the washing machine or the dryer. These make clothes wear out faster. Your clothes will look older because of these stains.
When There Is Low Water Pressure
Mineral deposits form in the pipes. This can cause blockage in faucets and showerheads. You will notice that your faucets have a white crust on the mouth of the spout. That crust can block the water coming out from the pipes. This is the reason there is low water pressure, making it hard for you to wash dishes, clothes, and shower.
Are There Health Problems Associated with Hard Water?
There are no serious health conditions associated with hard water. But it does dry your hair and skin. When you wash your hair frequently with hard water, that will leave your scalp feeling dry and itchy. The amount of minerals in hard water will also change the pH balance of your skin. If your skin feels dry and particularly prone to certain skin conditions, the hard water you use when taking a bath might be the culprit.
You can soften the water through a water softener system, which uses a resin with positively charged sodium ions. This replaces the magnesium and calcium in the water. But water softeners need maintenance such as cleaning and adding sodium pellets for the resin.
