Hard Water

Hard water is something you hear about, but most people aren't really sure whether or not they actually have it in their home. Most homeowners don't know how to determine if they have hard water or what they should do about it if it turns out they do. This is important due to the fact that approximately 60 percent of the UK population has hard water.

Hard water is water that is high in minerals, specifically magnesium and calcium. As these two minerals increase, water becomes harder. Hard water creates problems for homeowners when these minerals build up overtime in pipes and fixtures in their home. This buildup creates lime scale deposits, which restrict water flow and eventually lead to pipes having to be replaced in homes sooner than normal. In addition it can increase your energy bills by 25 percent.

Hard water also affects people and products. The minerals in hard water make soaps and shampoos hard to lather into your skin and decreases the amount of froth in your mouth when using toothpaste. Often times, people with hard water will have a film of soap remaining on their skin after a shower or bath, which can cause skin irritation. Hard water effects showers, bathtubs, and sinks by leaving hardened soap scum residue. It even affects clothes in the laundry cycle, as hard water prevents detergent from effectively penetrating clothing. This can leave the clothes looking starched and reducing their life-cycle by 40 percent.

If you are wondering about the hardness of your water, your city should be able to provide information to you about the hardness level. In addition, most water softener companies will test your water for free or provide you with a home water testing kit that you can do yourself. Hardness levels are reported in milligrams per liter or parts per million. The following scale indicates what your water's level of hardness is: soft water is 0-17.1 milligrams per liter; slightly hard is 17.1-60; moderately hard is 60-120; hard is 120-180; and very hard is anything above 180.

If you're wondering whether or not you have hard water in your home, contact your city for more information or a water softener company to get your water tested. Softer water may not only make you feel and look better, but it may also protect your home and save you money on energy bills and costly plumbing repairs.