Do your clothes seem to fade quickly? Are your showers not as hot as you’d like for them to be? Are your clean dishes covered in a film? If so, you could be dealing with hard water.
Hard water contains a buildup of mineral content usually consisting of magnesium and calcium ions, along with other dissolved compounds. This high mineral count can lead to several problems.
Laundry Trouble. Because the minerals in hard water leave a residue on laundered clothing, it often makes clothes fade quickly and feel scratchy. It may also make linens feel rougher than they should.
Water Temperature Issues. Hot water heaters may not work as efficiently if you have hard water. The large amount of sediment can build up quickly inside water heaters, making it more difficult to heat the water and eventually increasing your energy bills. Other appliances used to heat water can become clogged with minerals as well.
Film Buildup. Since these pesky minerals in hard water don’t rinse away in the dishwasher, you’ll notice residue on clean plates, cups and utensils. You’ll also notice a film not only on shower walls and doors, but also left in your hair and on your skin, which can be really irritating.
How Can I Get Rid of Hard Water?
Having a water softener installed in your home can eliminate the problems caused by hard water. Without getting too technical, what a water softener does is swap out excess calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions. Sodium ions get along better with soap and allow the residue and buildup to dissolve much more easily, leaving you with softer laundry, cleaner dishes, healthier hair and skin, and lower energy bills.
We at Putman Plumbing would be happy to talk to you about installing a water softener in your home. Give us a call.
