A San Diego home with hard water is a home filled with potential problems affecting your appliances, water fixtures, and pipes as well as your skin, hair, and laundry.
But the good thing about hard water is that you can treat it with the help of your favorite San Diego Plumber.
Common Signs of Hard Water:
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Limescale and water spots
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Weak water pressure
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Unusually high water bills
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Faded clothes after repeated washing
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Dry skin and hair from hard water in shower
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Water smells / tastes strange
1) Water Spots and Limescale
The most obvious sign that your home has hard water is the ugly looking stains and buildup in your bathroom and kitchen.
Hard water will leave behind water spots and stains once the water has dried. This will be most noticeable on the surfaces of your sinks, showers, bathtubs, walls, dishware, glasses, and utensils.
In addition to water spots, limescale buildup can also occur. Limescale is calcium and magnesium that gives off a “crusty” look. Areas you can find limescale include the openings of sink and shower faucets, water heaters, and surfaces that are in constant contact of water.
2) Poor Water Pressure
Not removing the hard water problem from your home can cause calcium and magnesium to also build up within your plumbing pipes. As a result, this can restrict the flow of water and decrease the pressure at which the water is dispensed from faucets.
Over the years, your pipes, water-using appliances, and plumbing fixtures can begin to experience problems that will require the frequent calling of your local plumber.
3) High Water Bills
Not only will hard water lower your water pressure, but it will also raise your monthly water bills. The lack of water pressure will result in you (and your family) using your sinks, showers, and plumbing fixtures for longer periods of time to make up for the lack of water pressure.
Therefore, if you see that your monthly water bills are slowly climbing with each and every month — you may want to confirm that your home has hard water (and then begin the process of treating it).
4) Lackluster Laundry
Doing laundry is an every week chore that has everyone just going through the motions in order to complete it. However, the next time you’re doing your laundry, take a look at your clothes as you take them out of the dryer.
Do your clothes have a faded look to them?
Hard water has a lot of abrasive minerals (calcium and magnesium being the two main culprits) that fade the coloring of your clothing.
5) Skin & Hair Issues
Just like your clothes, hard water can also affect your body. As time goes on when using hard water, you’ll notice your skin has become a lot drier and more irritated than it used to be. Not to mention the increase in blackheads on your face due to clogged pores from the minerals in the hard water.
On top of your skin being in worse condition, your hair will also suffer the same fate. Hair can easily become dry, brittle, and damaged.
6) Water Tastes & Smells Strange
Believe it or not, hard water can have an odd smell and taste. Some common smells / tastes associated with hard water or water that needs conditioner include a dirt-like smell, metallic taste, and even a smell resembling rotten eggs (if the water has too much hydrogen sulfide in it). If you suspect your home has hard water, trust your senses and contact a plumber if it smells unusual.
It’s possible for any home to experience hard water, especially here in San Diego, so it’s important for you to know how to identify the warning signs.
If you’re sick and tired of dealing with hard water, put an end to it by having your home’s water treated and ask about our water softener and water filtration systems. Our pros here at Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air will ensure that you never have to deal with hard water again!