You have probably heard of the terms “soft water” and “hard water.” You might wonder what will determine the water’s hardness or softness and if one kind of water is healthier or safer compared to the other.
Even if water is crystal clear, it will contain minerals and chemicals. There is a concentration of certain minerals that creates water “hardness.”
When you have hard water, there are minerals in it like magnesium, calcium, and iron. Even if hard water does not have major negative effects on your health, it can be a nuisance and it is not the first choice of most people. That is why they do not mind paying for a water softener installation. Here are the disadvantages of hard water.
Peculiar Taste/Smell
The magnesium and calcium bicarbonates, sulfates, and chlorides in hard water create a metallic taste and sulfurous smell that can be quite nasty. Again, even if these characteristics do not cause any danger to you, they are not pleasant. It can also be a big turn-off when you drink water.
You might eventually get used to the taste and smell of hard water, but if you have a visitor who is not accustomed to it, they will not drink your water.
There are Mineral Stains
The mineral stains show up on your clothes when you get them from the washing machine. Clothes wear out faster because of the hard water’s harshness. You will also notice stains on your silverware.
Limescale Deposits
When hard water evaporates or is heated, there are limescale deposits. This causes furring in the water, pipes, and heating appliances. The deposit accumulation in your washing machine means that you normally need to descale the inside of your appliance. Hard water also causes a loss of energy efficiency in some appliances. The calcium effect means that people use more detergent, which is important to the environment. Lastly, your body will feel the limescale negative effects – making your skin dry and it takes the shine away from your hair.
Hard to Work up a Lather
When you have soft water, using soap has to produce a frothy white bubble mass, or “lather”, every time you are going to wash your hands. However, when it is hard water, it can be hard, which is a huge downside for anyone who is concerned about viruses and germs.
Less Water Pressure
Mineral deposits will form in your pipes, which essentially shrinks the interior diameter of all the pipes and it reduces the water flow. This is annoying and inconvenient when you want to wash plates right away or you want to shower with strong water pressure.
There is Corrosion
It is not surprising that the limescale buildup that happens in your water heater can also occur in your plumbing system. This might interfere with the water flow in your pipes, which causes corrosion that wears down the piping faster. That is why, in order to prevent the pipe from bursting and repiping, as well as fixture replacement, you should fix the hard water issue.
Affects the Efficiency of Appliances
Even if some of the disadvantages are minor, there are issues that can lead to serious problems. For instance, the efficiency of the appliances like a water heaters. Throughout time, the mineral buildup in the water heater forms a scaly layer. This will cut back the ability of the unit to heat water, decreasing the overall efficiency. The heater will use more energy over time, which costs you more money.
You can have a water softener system Warren installed in your home anytime. All you need to do is set an appointment.