The water that comes out of your tap often contains dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. When these minerals come in high amounts, then the water is considered “hard water.”
Such minerals are not harmful. In fact, your body needs them. However, too much of anything is never a good sign. Fortunately, there are services that offer water softener installation in Provo, Salt Lake, and all over Utah to solve this problem. Here is how you know your home would benefit from having a water softening system:
There is White Film in All Your Dinnerware
Have you noticed that your plates and glasses always seem to have soap residue that you need to rinse multiple times to get rid off? The problem may not be your dish soap, but the water coming out of your tap. The minerals in hard water make soap work less effectively, leaving noticeable spots in your glasses and plates.
There is Scale Buildup on Bathroom Tiles
Similarly, if you have hard water, a chalky substance called limescale might appear in your bathroom. Limescale, or simply scale, is made up of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate left behind when the water evaporates.
You Have Clogged Pipes
Minerals in your water also build up inside your pipes. When this happens, water pressure from the faucet or shower gets reduced while the water heater takes more time to heat water. Mineral buildup in the pipes can cause your appliance to work less efficiently and, over time, degrade faster. If you find yourself constantly calling a plumber to repair your pipes, maybe it is time to get a water softener system installed.
Your Skin and Hair Feel Dry
The excess minerals in hard water, which your typical bath soap cannot dissolve, can clog your pores and cause skin irritation. In fact, in areas where the hardness of water is high, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis appear more often, especially among younger children. Those who already have eczema might experience worse symptoms after bathing with hard water.
Hard water can also be harsh on the scalp. People with naturally oily scalp will likely look more greasy, even if they shower every day. Those who have dry scalp might regularly experience flakiness. Moreover, hair loses its elasticity when washed with hard water. As a result, your hair will feel dry and frizzy.
If your skin or scalp problem exists, no matter what soap or shampoo you use, the quality of water coming out from your shower might be the culprit.
Your Clothes Fade Quickly
If your white shirt appears gray after washing, or if your colorful bedsheet has lost its vibrancy after a few uses, there might be too much mineral in your water. The high amount of calcium and magnesium in hard water makes detergent work less better, making your laundry feel rough and may even damage the fibers in fabric.
Your Water Bill is Climbing
Your water bill has gone up, but water usage inside your household has not changed. Having hard water can be a very expensive problem. Aside from damaging your clothes and appliances, the mineral buildup caused by hard water makes your pipes work harder to let water flow into your tap. This leads to a higher water bill that can only be remedied by installing a water softening system.
If you are experiencing any of the signs above, there is a high probability that you have hard water. Installing a water softening system will reduce the concentration of minerals in your water and help avoid water-related problems in your home.