Did you know that nearly 85 percent of the nation’s homes have hard water flowing through its pipes? The state of California has especially hard water and is ranked highly in the nation in terms of water hardness. Water hardness is measured in terms of parts per million, and the average water hardness in California is rated at 186 PPM.
What is hard water?
Hard water forms as it moves through areas filled with limestone, which deposits calcium and magnesium into the water. Along the way, the water also picks up other elements like oxidized iron which is what leaves rusty looking stains in your toilet bowls or sinks.
Will hard water affect my home?
Overall, hard water won’t impact your health. Even though the water might taste a little strange coming out of the tap this isn’t a sign of any harmful materials or chemicals in your water. However, hard water can have some pretty negative effects on your home and body including:
- Hair. The minerals in hard water have a drying effect on hair, making it less soft and much more brittle and prone to breaking.
- Skin. When hard water combines with soap it is unable to soak into your skin, so this soapy water combination ends up left on your skin making it really dry and sometimes itchy. This effect is even worse for those who already have sensitive skin or other skin conditions, including eczema.
- Dishes. The water and detergent combination has a similar effect on your dishes as it does on your skin. The mixture forms a film that settles on otherwise clean dishes leaving unwanted water spots and cloudiness on your items.
- Fixtures. Because hard water spends the most amount of time in your pipes and fixtures, the effect is exponentially worse here. Just look at the Roman aqueducts that were in use for nearly 180 years. They now have mineral deposits lining them that are nearly 8 inches thick. These mineral deposits can impact the efficiency of your plumbing and can even cause your water heater to stop functioning properly.
- Clothes. Your clothes can even fall victim to hard water. Detergent isn’t able to penetrate the materials of your clothing as easily and instead leaves the items looking faded and worn.
How can I combat hard water?
There are a few solutions to consider when trying to eliminate hard water from your home, usually, you’re choosing between a point-of-use filter or a whole house filtration system.
As the name implies, a whole house system treats the water at the point of entry into your home. While a point-of-use system filters water at a specific faucet or spout. If you are only concerned about hard water when you’re cooking or washing dishes, then a point-of-use system would be great for you. However, if you would like treated water when you’re showering, washing your hands, doing laundry, etc. then a whole-home system is your best option.
Whether you select a point-of-use filter or a whole house filtration system, at Courtesy Plumbing, we highly recommend going with a Pelican Water System. As a certified dealer of Pelican products, we can help you find the system that would work best for you and your home’s specific needs.
We offer top-notch products accompanied by superior service. Contact a water filtration expert at Courtesy Plumbing today for assistance in making this decision for your home, and receive a free estimate. Visit our website to fill out a contact form, or give us a call at (626) 774-7167
