You can’t tell water is hard just by looking at it or running your hands under the faucet. However, hard water can affect your clothes, your hair, and your appliances. Here’s a more in-depth look at what hard water is, the signs of hard water, and the steps you can take to soften your water.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is defined as water that has a high content of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. While hard water isn’t harmful, it does leave an ugly residue on your faucets, shower heads, and dishes. If you notice white spots on your glasses, this is evidence that you have hard water. Over time, hard water can also impact your appliances, such as your washing machine and your dishwasher. Hard water affects your skin and hair, too. You may notice a residue on your skin after taking a bath or a shower.
How Can You Tell If You Have Hard Water?
If you’re worried about your water, here are some signs that you have hard water.
Difficulty Lathering
A good indication that you have hard water is difficulty lathering. If your soap isn’t lathering very well or you notice a filmy residue on your skin after taking a bath or a shower, you probably have hard water. Your next step should determine the level of hardness.
Spots on Your Glasses
After your glasses dry in the dishwasher or on a dish rack, try to inspect them. If you find that they have whitish spots or appear to have a cloudy film on them, then your water is hard. These spots are due to the mineral deposits in the water.
White Buildup on Faucets and Shower Heads
One of the more annoying signs of hard water is the white, calcium buildup on faucets and shower heads. While hard water isn’t harmful, this buildup will eventually destroy the look of your faucets. Getting rid of this buildup can be difficult, too, if not impossible. Often, the only solution is to replace your faucets completely. Unfortunately, this buildup can also accumulate inside of your pipes, shortening their lifespan.
Stiff Laundry
Another sign of hard water is stiff and off-color laundry. Over time, your white clothes may start to look grayish. This is a result of mineral deposits left behind by the hard water. The deposits tend to cling to fabrics, making it difficult for laundry detergents to clean effectively.
Dry Hair
If your hair feels dry and lifeless, your hair products may not be to blame. The minerals in hard water can strip moisture from your hair.
How Is Hard Water Measured?
To measure hard water, experts measure the concentration of dissolved minerals in the water, primarily calcium and magnesium. The higher the concentration, the harder the water. Hard water is measured either by Grains per Gallon or Milligrams per Liter.
Grains Per Gallon (gpg)
Grains per gallon is determined by the weight of the minerals in one gallon of water.
- Soft water: 0-3 gpg
- Moderate water: 3.5-7 gpg
- Hard water: Above 7.5 gpg
Milligrams Per Liter or Parts Per Million (mg/L) or (ppm)
Milligrams per liter measures the milligrams of minerals in one liter of water.
- Soft water: 0-60 mg/L or 0-51 ppm
- Moderate water: 61-120 mg/L or 51-120 ppm
- Hard water: 121-180 mg/L or 120 to 171 ppm
- Very hard water: Above 180 mg/L or 171 ppm
Due to the limestone geology in Miami, the water here tends to be very hard. If you’d like to measure it, purchase a home testing kit. This kit includes a testing strip that you dip into your water. The strip changes color, allowing you to determine the hardness level of your water.
How Can You Correct Your Hard Water Issue?
Because hard water can affect your plumbing and your appliances, you may want to consider correcting your hard water issue as soon as possible. There are a couple of ways to do this.
Install a Water Softener
One of the most effective ways to soften your water is by installing a water softener. Water softeners use an ion-exchange method to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium and potassium ions. Water softeners require a regular supply of salt, but this cost is minimal compared to what you would save with plumbing repairs and faucets or shower heads replacements.
Talk to our plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for a professional installation. Softening your water comes with plenty of benefits. For one, you’ll notice better water pressure coming out of your water faucets and garden hose. A buildup of calcium sediments in your pipes reduces the diameter of your pipes, thereby reducing water flow. You’ll also get cleaner dishes and better-looking hair and skin.
Use a Water Conditioner
Although water conditioners don’t remove minerals, they physically alter the minerals and prevent them from building up within your pipes or on your faucets.
Does Hard Water Pose Health Risks?
Although hard water is a problem in Miami and can shorten the lifespan of your pipes and fixtures, it doesn’t pose any significant health risks. However, there are some caveats worth thinking about.
Calcium and Magnesium
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium, which is actually beneficial to our bodies in small amounts. The amount they contain isn’t enough to become a major source of nutrients. In other words, removing these minerals from your water won’t have a negative effect on your body.
Skin Irritation
Although there are no health risks to drinking hard water, hard water can leave a residue on the surface of your skin, making it difficult to thoroughly rinse off soap. This can end up drying out your skin and aggravating skin conditions, such as eczema.
Taste
Hard water tends to have a taste due to the mineral content. Some people find the taste unappealing and prefer the taste of soft water.
The Expert Plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
When it’s time to soften your water in Miami, our plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing can help. We provide top-notch plumbing services with a smile! Besides installing water softeners, we’re your go-to plumbers for emergency plumbing repairs, drain clogs, leaks, or entire pipe replacement jobs.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We will determine your chlorine and mineral levels and then discuss your water softener options. We will also inspect your pipes to see if there are any sediment buildup issues.