Hard water can negatively impact the quality of your tap, with its effects ranging from minor cleaning nuisances to blocking irrigation systems. Up to 85% of homes in the United States have hard water, but properties that draw water from private wells and farms in mineral-rich areas tend to have a higher hard water density. If hard water has become a problem for you, the best solution is a water softener.

Solving Hard Water Problems

What Is Hard Water?          

When groundwater rises through limestone, it absorbs large amounts of minerals like calcium, magnesium salts, iron, and, sometimes, aluminum. While not usually a health risk, long-term exposure is harmful to pipes, irrigation systems, and home appliances.

Why Is It a problem?

Hard water stains are in most homes in the form of soap scum. Calcium and magnesium don’t react well with soap, creating water spots on bathroom walls. It has a similar effect on skin and fabrics, as well. Bathing in hard water leaves soap behind, causing dryness and irritation, while clothes washed in hard water lose their color and wear out faster.    

In large concentrations, the minerals can change the taste and smell of water. People have reported the taste of rotten eggs, metal, and dirt. If the damage to the pipe worsens, rust-colored residue stains might be found in bathtubs and toilets.

When hard water evaporates, the remaining minerals dry into limescale. This hard, chalky substance causes blockages in pipes, decreasing water pressure in irrigation systems, showers, dishwashers, icemakers, and washing machines. Lower efficiency means more water gets used, which can be costly for families and business owners relying on crops.  

How Can a Water Softener Help?

In the short-term, some of the effects of hard water can be cleaned with some effort. Switch to a liquid detergent with baking soda and a built-in water softener for your clothes. Fixtures should be soaked with bleach and powdered dishwater detergent or washed in white vinegar. Anti-scale liquids like MCT501c dissolves limescale in irrigation systems.

However, the best solution is a water softener. It’s a machine that is hooked up to your water supply. Like a filtration system, water softeners eliminate excess minerals that make hard water a problem. The softened water is cleaned and then pumped into your home for safe use.

Water softeners last between 10 and 20 years amd will save you money on repairing and replacing items damaged by hard water.

If you suspect your water well or irrigation systems have been damaged by hard water, Conyers Well Service can help you. Locally operating in Dimmitt, Texas, and throughout the Panhandle, they offer everything from water well service and installation to windmill repair, and their 24-hour emergency service ensures you’ll never have to wait long for help. For a free estimate, call (806) 647-3215. For more information on their many services, visit their website.