Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Skokie. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.
Learning the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing, appliances and fixtures Here, the professional local plumbers at Topline HVAC will define what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Most importantly, you’ll learn what we can do to protect your home.
What’s the Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?
What is hard water? It’s water that has elevated amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not dangerous to drink but can harm your plumbing.
Soft water, by contrast has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is doesn’tnot going to damage your plumbing system.
Signs of Hard Water in Your Home
Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:
- Whiteish mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures
- Reduced water pressure
- Dry skin or brittle hair
- Stiff or faded laundry
- Shampoo doesn’t lather very much
- Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher
If you notice any of these signs, call Topline HVAC for expert evaluation. Our team will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness and how to fix it.
Frequently Reported Hard Water Effects on Plumbing
Why does it matter if you are dealing with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to stick to the inside of your pipes, which forms something called limescale.
Limescale in plumbing narrows the interior of your pipes, which can reduce water pressure and even cause clogs or leaks.
The following are examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause in your plumbing:
Plumbing Leaks
Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create uneven surfaces. This increases the speed of corrosion and creates a higher chance of small leaks. This is most likely in older metal plumbing.
Damage to Home Appliances
Mineral limescale buildup in your water heater can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to work harder by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.
Low Water Pressure
As limescale builds up inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as reduced spray strength or tubs requiring more time to fill with water.
Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains
Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is stubborn soap scum and hard water stains:
- Soap scum: Forms when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This cloudy residue doesn’t wash off.
- Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and leaves minerals behind. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even cloud the glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have red or brown hues if your water is also high in iron.
Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Topline HVAC
What can you do about hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Topline HVAC provides complete hard water solutions in Skokie. We repair existing hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore flow and efficiency.
Our plumbing services also prevent new hard water damage from happening by setting up a water softening system. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. These systems limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing soft, mineral-free water.
Stop hard water damage now! Contact a local plumber from Topline HVAC by calling 866-560-8214 today!
