Not all water is the same. While of course the majority of what runs through your pipes will always be H2O, just hydrogen and oxygen, the amazing thing about water is that it is a miraculous solvent. It’s extremely good at dissolving little bits of everything it passes through, and then it carries those bits along with it as it enters your home and flows through your plumbing.
You might have heard something about this, but chances are, you don’t know the whole story. We’re talking about hard water. What are the hazards it poses? What can you do about it? Do you need a water softening system? Here are some facts.
Minerals in Your Water
Hard water might seem like an odd term for it, but it’s because the water contains larger-than-normal amounts of dissolved minerals. That’s essentially rocks! But in this case, the minerals commonly found in water are calcium, magnesium, and iron. You might note that people sometimes take these as supplements. That’s right! They’re not harmful to your health, so it is safe to drink hard water.
Mineral Deposits
One of the delightful things that mineral-rich water can do is leave behind mineral deposits. Picture a cave, with water dripping from the ceiling. As that water slowly evaporates, it leaves behind everything that wasn’t hydrogen or oxygen. Little particles of various minerals accumulate. That’s how stalactites and stalagmites form! It’s beautiful, and spectacular … and definitely not something you want to have happen in your drain pipes or water heater.
Hard Water Inconveniences
When these minerals accumulate, they can cause problems with your appliances, such as your water heater, dishwasher, even your coffee maker. They can gradually build up in layer after layer along the inside of pipes or the holes in your showerhead, limiting water flow, lowering water pressure, and eventually, leading to clogs and blockages.
When these things occur, you’ll need a lot of plumbing repairs. Your water heater will need frequent flushes to get rid of the layers of mineral scaling. Drains will need cleaning—especially because hard water prevents soap from dissolving properly. That means you’ll end up with more soap scum, further contributing to clogs.
You’ll also find that this soap-dissolving issue will affect other things in your home. You won’t be able to work up such a good lather in the shower. The residue won’t rinse out of your hair or off your skin so easily. Clothing in the wash won’t get as clean, and soap scum will be left behind. This same phenomenon is responsible for white residue left on dishes after a trip through the dishwasher.
Water Softeners
If you’ve been dealing with these hard water problems, have a conversation with a plumber about getting a water softener in Green Valley, AZ. These systems pass all the water that enters your home through a chamber where the minerals will bond together and be trapped, allowing the H2O to keep flowing. All those hard water frustrations will be over!
Contact Picture Rocks Cooling, Heating & Plumbing today with any questions or to schedule an appointment with our professionals.