5 Clear Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water, which contains high mineral content, can wreak havoc on our daily routines and the condition of a home's plumbing system. You can take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of hard water, protect your plumbing system, and improve your overall water quality if you can recognize these symptoms. Learn five clear clues that indicate the presence of hard water in your home.

1. White or Scale Deposits

The presence of mineral deposits on dishes, coffee makers, and other kitchen gadgets is a clear symptom of hard water. Scales form on bathroom sinks and fixtures such as faucets as minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium stay behind as water circulates the house.

These scaly layers can make things look fuzzy or shadowed around the edges. This scale can also accumulate in coffee makers, making the water filtering process slower and leaving behind unsightly white patches that are difficult to remove.

Regularly wash and dry your bathroom fittings to help mitigate the damaging effects of hard water. You can clean coffee makers and other water-using appliances with vinegar. Also, you can eliminate water line contaminants with a filtering device.

2. Skin and Hair Issues

The hair and scalp can suffer from calcium, silica, and copper minerals in hard water. Hard water can hinder a good lather and a clean rinse. Also, the hair follicles weaken due to exposure to these minerals, resulting in dry, frizzy hair and hair loss. Signs of using hard water include thinning, breaking, tangling, and dullness of your hair.

The high concentration of minerals in hard water also contributes to dry, itchy skin. Prolonged exposure to hard water can exacerbate eczema symptoms and contribute to the early onset of the condition. The minerals can irritate and burn your skin or eyes. The minerals left on the body might also dehydrate the skin.

3. Plumbing Clogs

Limescale and other substances in the water supply can wreak havoc on your home's plumbing system. Faucets may run slowly, and the water heater or other fixtures in the bathroom may stop functioning altogether if sediment builds up and reduces water pressure. Hard water mineral development can also cause persistent gurgling sounds or frequent pipe blockages.

4. Soap Scum

The soap scum you see in the shower results from the minerals in your water that interact with the compounds in soap products. Minerals in hard water mix with soap and other cleaning chemicals, leaving behind a slimy residue called soap scum of calcium and magnesium residues.

This residue is visible on ceramics, porcelain, and glass shower enclosures. It forms a thick layer that is challenging to eliminate and dulls the surface.

Therefore, you need more effort and cleaning products to maintain the appearance of clean surfaces. Besides being a pain to get rid of, soap scum can breed disease-causing germs in a microbial biofilm if you don't get rid of it.

5. Laundry and Dish Washing Difficulties

When you clean your laundry in hard water, the minerals might leave a filmy residue. Since detergent and soap cannot lather effectively in the presence of this film, and dirt and grime particles remain embedded in the fabric during washing. The decreased cleaning efficiency of your detergent and the interaction of hard water minerals with soap can lead to premature wear and tear on your garments, making them look old and worn.

Minerals can also settle on glassware to create murky spots and streaks. Detergents specifically designed to work in hard water can help mitigate these issues. You may also require a greater quantity of detergent and hotter water when washing your items.

Contact us at Indy Water Heater and Softener for plumbing services related to hard water. We serve residents located in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Whitestown.