Hard water can cause serious issues for both domestic and commercial areas. It can damage the hardware of the appliances and machinery that uses water. Furthermore, hard water is quite damaging for skin and human health as well. According to USGS, the areas affected in the U.S. have increased since the 1975 water year.
Hard and soft waters are both natural water resources. But it is possible to change the water nature by changing ion-chemistry of water. Usually, the hardness in water is caused by the accumulation of calcium and magnesium ions majority. Likewise, one can reverse the hard water into soft by using a water softener.
Oftentimes the domestic water turns into hard water and people couldn’t even identify. So, the question under discussion is how to identify the signs that you have hard water? Or how to know you need a water softener? Well, thankfully there are certain obvious signs and indicators that can help you to understand that you need good water softener in your house.
Sings ThatYou Need A Water Softener:
– Itchy and Dry Skin:
Hard water is very damaging for your skin and hair. It can cause serious reactions on your skin. The most obvious effect of hard water is dry and scaly skin that causes severe itching. Moreover, hard water is damaging to hair growth and health. It not only cause hair fall but also makes your hair dry, fuzzy and less shiny.
Actually, the magnesium and calcium ions in the water prevent it from absorbing in your skin and scalp. It means that your skin and scalp are not getting the required moisture which causes the reactions. Furthermore, the magnesium and calcium ions stay on the skin surface and cause blackheads, inflammation, and redness as well. But the good news is that you can avoid this with the help of a good shampoo and soap.
– Faded and Greyish Clothes:
Hard water also affects the texture and fabric of your clothes. Even your newest clothes could look old in just a few days. Hardwater fades the color of fabric very quickly. Plus, it makes your clothes and bedsheets scratchy. And it gets difficult to wash the stains and dirt from the clothes.
It is all because of the hard water. It causes the accumulation of mineral and metal ions on the fabric. And as a result, the detergent and washing powder couldn’t remove stains and dirt properly. To avoid faded and scratchy clothes, use liquid detergent and a cloth softener.
– Scaling of Utensils:
One of the sure ways to identify hard water is to check your kitchen appliances (that uses water) and utensils. If you notice the presence of white residue or scaling of hardware, it is a clear sign that you are using hard water. The white residue is called the limescale that is formed due to the accumulation of calcium and magnesium on the surface.
Hard water makes the utensils and other kitchen appliances vulnerable to rust and damage. Plus, it increases the risk of magnesium and calcium ion consumption as well. Magnesium and calcium ions can cause serious health issues if excessively consumed.
– Stains on Sinks and Bathtubs:
Hard water causes a similar reaction to the sanitary items. It will form lime-scale and causes stains on the tile floor, bathtub, and sinks. The stains on faucets, sinks, and tiles look like plastic which is formed by calcium and magnesium.
There are many ways to get rid of these stains. You can use potassium chloride water softener to get rid of these stains permanently. Alternatively, you can apply vinegar or a mixture of 1 cup bleach and ½ cup of a powdered dishwasher on the stains. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes and then wipe out with a cloth.
– Damaged Plumbing:
If your plumbing lines of pipes are constantly clogged or require regular maintenance, then it’s one of the many signs of hard water. Hard water causes clogging due to the formation of limescale within the copper and PVC pipes. Further, the limescale also cause rusting of copper pipes. Due to clogging rust, you might need to replace or repair your plumbing lines more often. It might cost you lots of dollar bills annually.
– Brittle and Damaged Glassware:
When you use hard water to clean and wash your glassware it makes them brittle and tarnishes their shine. Also, due to hard water, the glassware becomes more vulnerable to damage as well as break. To remove the stains, you need to use a liquid dishwasher.
– Rotten and Unhealthy Plants:
Just as hard water is damaging for your skin and hair it is equally damaging for the plants as well. It can ruin you within weeks and can even make your garden barren. If your plants are drooping or dying it is another sign that you need a good water softener.
– Skyrocketing Water Bills:
Due to clogging and high levels of calcium and magnesium ions in water, your plumbing system uses more energy to pump water. It will directly affect the water bills. It gives you another reason to find a good water softener.
So What’s The Solution?
If you are experiencing some or all of the above signs it means that your water supply is supplying hard water to your home. You could either get a new water supply that is quite expensive and time consuming, or you could remove the high amounts of magnesium and calcium ions. The latter option is not only effective but also affordable.
With the help of a good water softener, you could easily turn hard water into soft water. These water softeners simply reduce or takes out the calcium and magnesium ions by adding sodium and potassium ions into the water. Thus, turning the water chemistry into soft water. According to water softener reviews, an average size water softener can change up to 25 gallons of hard water per day into soft water. But for this, you need to be very sure about the water hardness level of your house.
