Do you have hard water at your house? If so, you might notice that your showers, bathtubs, and toilets have developed brown, rust stains that mar the porcelain. Another indication that you have hard water is a filmy sensation on your skin and hair after taking a bath. Sometimes, residential water systems have trace amounts of minerals that may be hard to see with the naked eye. While hard water isn’t bad for your health, it’s horrible for your plumbing system. When hard water moves through the system, it leaves behind sediment that corrodes pipes, makes it harder for water heaters to work, and breaks down water fixtures quicker. For these reasons, it’s important that homeowners consider getting their water checked by a private water test lab.
Temporary Water Hardness
Homes affected by temporary water hardness have the option to boil their water. This type of water hardness is caused when there is biocarbonate ion in the water. Instead of removing the biocarbonate ion, boiling actually removes the excess carbon dioxide.
Permanent Hardness
When your home has this kind of water hardness, it can’t be removed through boiling. Instead, it must be taken care of in another manner. Most homeowners who have very hard water install a water conditioning system such as a water softener. Water softeners use sodium to counteract the effects of the hard water, which occurs when there is a buildup of calcium or magnesium. These minerals aren’t harmful to drink or for hygienic use, but they form very hard deposits as they travel through your plumbing.
Why You Need to Test Your Water
There’s a misconception that only homes that get their water from wells need to have their water tested by a private water testing laboratory. Homeowners who get their water from municipal water supplies automatically assume that the city is managing the water coming from their system. While cities do take extra measures to remove chemicals, sometimes they slip through anyway. Even a small amount of hard water can affect your plumbing fixtures. That’s why it’s always recommended that homeowners, regardless of where their water comes from, contact private water testing laboratories to evaluate their water periodically.
Fixing Hard Water
If your home is affected by hard water as confirmed by a private water testing lab, contact a water filtration company near you to learn more about water softening and conditioning options.