Does Your Home Have A Hard Water Problem?
Unless you have not dealt with a hard water issue in the past, you might not recognize the signs. Unfortunately, hard water can cause problems over time if it is not treated. If you suspect that you have a hard water problem, here is what you need to know.
Is It Hard Water?
There are several signs that you might be overlooking that could point toward a hard water problem. For instance, your water might taste or smell funny. The odor or taste is likely caused by the overload of minerals that leads to hard water. If the water has a metallic taste, you are likely tasting an abundance of iron.
Hard water can even impact how well you can get your dishes and clothes clean. The water will cause an abundance of soap scum. Your dishes could have spots on them and you can even see a thin film of soap buildup on your shower curtain and walls.
If you have not noticed a water problem while cleaning or drinking, you might notice it in the shower. Hard water has an adverse reaction with soap. When you try to lather up with the soap, you will likely find it to be difficult. The longer the water goes untreated, the more challenging it will become to take a good shower.
The hard water issue can even lead to the development of skin conditions. The mineral deposits basically drain the moisture from the skin and leave it extremely dry. If you or someone in your household has an existing condition, such as psoriasis, it could be worsened.
Hard water can cause buildup in your pipes. If you have steel pipes, the buildup could result in a clog that could prove costly to repair.
What Can You Do?
The obvious solution to your hard water problem is to install a water softener. The water softener works to remove the minerals that are overloading your water. You can choose to install a water softener on just one faucet or opt for a system that filters the water for the entire home. You can talk with a company like American Water Treatment for more installation information.
There are several features available for water softeners, but there is one you should consider adding. A water softener regenerator focuses on recirculating the water through the softener to ensure that the minerals were removed.
The regeneration process typically occurs during a period when the water is least in use. For instance, it can be set to run overnight. It can take several minutes to complete, but the water will be of a higher quality.