85% of homes in the US have hard water problems. Hard water means your water contains high concentrations of calcium and magnesium. The good news is hard water is safe to drink – your body likes calcium and magnesium. The bad news is hard water can cause a number of plumbing and other issues in your home. The first sign that you have hard water is a white buildup around your faucets, but it can still be present, causing damage even if you don’t see that build up. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how hard water problems in your home can cause damage.
Pipe Damage
Over time, calcium and magnesium buildup and will create scale deposits inside your pipes. Scale deposits are the leading cause of clogged pipes. Even small deposits can restrict water flow. As the water flow gets restricted, the pressure in your pipes increases. Eventually, the pressure can lead to a leak. If it doesn’t lead to a leak it can still lead to corrosion. Corroded pipes can leak toxic chemicals into your water supply and have adverse health effects.
HVAC Problems
You HVAC system hates hard water. Studies have shown that hard water can decrease gas and electric water heater efficiency by 20 to 30%. When hard water travels through your water heater it leaves behind mineral gunk that builds up on the heating elements. This causes the clogged heating elements to work harder to do their job, and results in higher energy bills or expensive repairs. Your HVAC humidifier can suffer from calcium blockage resulting in white dust in the air and on your furniture.
Higher Energy Bills
As noted above, as calcium builds up, it can reduce the efficiency of your appliances. Calcium deposits on sprayers and drains can impact your dishwasher and lower water flow to in washing machines. Calcium deposits make your appliances work extra hard, reducing their lifespan, make them less efficient, and raises your energy bills.
Spotty Dishes
Ever run the dishwasher then pull out “clean” dishes that are covered in spots? Hard water is notorious for leaving behind spots on dishes and glasses. The most obvious sign is little white spots on your glassware. They may feel chalky, but usually wipe away easily with a dish rag. Constantly having to wash and re-wash or hand wipe dishes takes away the advantages of having a dish washer in the first place.
How to Fix Hard Water Problems in your Home
As much as hard water can cause problems in your home, there are solutions to reduce the damage it causes. Products like water softeners can help reduce the hardness of your water supply. If your home has damage and needs repairs from hard water Top of the Line Plumbing provides plumbing services to Duval County, St. Johns County, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and the surrounding areas. There isn’t a plumbing job too big or too small for our team to handle. From repairs and repiping to hydro jetting and water filtration, Top of the Line has the experts to get the job done.
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