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What is Hard Water?
Very simply, hard water is water with high levels of certain minerals. Calcium, and magnesium are a few of the examples of minerals found in hard water. Is this a cause for concern? Yes and no. There is no risk to your health if you drink this water. Most tap water in the country is perfectly safe to drink. However, you could have problems with some of the other uses of your water. Additionally, the taste isn’t great. This is a widespread phenomenon, but one that many individuals are taking the opportunity to address on their own through in-home filtration and water softener systems.
How Do I Know If I Have Hard Water?
You probably already can, but may not realize it. The minerals in hard water create a chalky color to the water as it flows out of the tap. When you pour the water into a glass you may notice the chalky particles before they fully settle down. Beyond that, you may begin to notice the symptoms of hard water if you notice some of the downsides that we’ll mention further along.
Is This Something I Should Be Worried About?
Well, yes and no. Your health is not in danger due to drinking hard water. In fact, while many report worse taste from hard water, some scientists believe that those minerals can help your bone health. However, there are many downsides you may start to notice in the other places you use water.
What Are the Downsides?
You may have seen commercials for dishwasher detergents that can get rid of that annoying cloudy buildup on your dishes and glasses after you clean them in your machine. The reason that buildup even occurs in the first place is because of hard water. All of those grains of magnesium and calcium buildup over time and cause that unsightly buildup on your dishware.
We also see long-term issues from doing the laundry with hard water. The minerals make it harder for soap to create suds that can actually clean your clothes. Additionally, the rough mineral grains can deaden color and rough up your clothes over time. If you’re noticing your t-shirts and sweaters get crinkly and lose their softness you likely have a problem with hard water.
What Can We Do About It?
We can install a sophisticated “water softening” system for your convenience. These units utilize a process called ion exchange. This forces the water to undergo a chemical reaction where the calcium and magnesium molecules lose their ions which essentially prevents them from binding with soap or your dishes. After the process, they are completely inert and your soap will have no problem creating suds.
These systems can service your whole home. Unlike a water filtration system that stays under your kitchen sink, you don’t have to worry about one area of your home being the best for clean water.
We offer competitively priced water softener systems for the community to assist with all your cleaning needs from your dishwasher to your laundry.
Why is Hard Water Common in America?
The U.S. has an advanced water system, but struggles with hard water throughout the country. It may surprise you to learn the reason why. It’s due to the unique geological history of North America. Ancient seabeds once covered the continent leaving behind limescale deposits. This is why there are ancient fossils of sea creatures in the middle of Kansas for example.
The plumbing experts at Mallick Plumbing & Heating have you covered for all of your home plumbing needs. If you’re interested in a water softener system, give us a call at (301) 804-6759 or fill out an online contact form!