If your home doesn’t have a water softener, you may notice the effects of hard water. This water has minerals like magnesium and calcium, which can have negative impacts on your home and family. Below is some insight into how these minerals may leave their mark in your daily life. 

What Issues Can Hard Water Cause?

Issues With the Home 

If your house has hard water, you may notice tan or reddish stains in the areas where the water hits from the faucet and around the drains or toilet bowl. It can be challenging to remove these lime deposits and may require frequent cleaning to prevent staining the surfaces.

When you empty clean dishes from the dishwasher, you may find that the plates, bowls, and silverware are spotty or streaked. These markings are typical as hard water minerals make soap less effective. 

Some people notice that their brightly colored clothing and linens lose color after a few washes. This issue can happen when hard water minerals like calcium and iron react with laundry detergent, causing color fading and potentially creating rust-colored or chalk-like fabric stains.

Over time, minerals can build up in the plumbing, slowing the flow and worsening the pressure. These chalky deposits will reduce the diameter inside the pipes, making the water pump work harder to move the liquid into and out of the home and potentially increasing your electricity bill. You may also recognize this issue if the drains empty slowly despite being clear of food debris or hair. A water softener can eliminate these issues and reduce the deposits that are present. 

Problems Caused for Residents 

Many people realize they have hard water when their skin doesn’t feel clean after a shower or bath. Minerals can leave a layer of residue on your skin, causing dryness and irritation. Children and older individuals are especially likely to notice this issue because their skin is often sensitive. 

Your family might also notice that their hair is dull and brittle when it’s usually shiny and soft. The hard minerals can combine with the shampoo and block moisture from oiling your hair, making it dry and more likely to break. If you struggle to lather with a product that should produce suds, the minerals may prevent the water from activating the soap and limit the cleaning power.

If you’re interested in installing a water softener, contact A. Stevens Plumbing & Heating Inc. in Orange County, NY. The company is one of the few in the state that provides top-quality Hague® water softeners. Call the Washingtonville-area water softener experts at (845) 496-5903 or visit the website for information on their over 30-year history fixing leaks, creating bathroom plumbing remodels, and addressing HVAC services.