If you've found that your dishes just won't get clean, or that your hair and skin are drier than usual, you may have hard water. This common problem can be a bit of a nuisance, but it can luckily be fixed with a water softening system. Learn more about this issue below to take care of it as soon as possible.

What You Need to Know About Hard Water

What is hard water?

When your water supply has a high concentration of minerals—more than 120 parts per million—it's considered hard. The two primary minerals found in hard water are calcium and magnesium.

Is having hard water dangerous?

Calcium and magnesium are harmless, especially in the concentrations that are allowable for municipal water. Many uses of water, such as watering your lawn or washing off your driveway, will not be affected by having hard water.

However, when used for bathing or washing dishes, clothes, or your car, hard water does have some inconvenient side-effects. It requires more soap to build a lather, which can be wasteful. It also creates a calcium residue when combined with soap that can't easily be washed off hard surfaces, and it can eventually clog your pipes.

How can I tell if I have hard water?

If you have a white film on your shower head or doors, that's likely a sign of hard water, as the minerals remain after water has evaporated. Glasses and coffee pots will also show this sign after being washed and dried. Additionally, you may notice that your hair and skin are drier than usual.

What is a water softener?

Water softening systems can be installed to your home's water supply line to reduce your water's mineral content. The water runs into the softener and through an ion replacement tank, where the hard minerals collide with negatively charged polystyrene beads bonded to positively charged sodium ions. The hard minerals are bound to the beads, releasing the sodium into the tank. Small amounts of sodium do make it into your house's supply water, though the number will be well below the FDA's standards.

If you have hard water, the experts at Branton Bros Well Drilling, Inc. in Dothan, AL, can help. Serving Dale, Henry, Geneva, and Houston counties, these professionals provide complete home water solutions, from well drilling to installing water softening systems. Call them at (334) 677-5489 to schedule an appointment today, or reach out on their website if you have any more questions.