Most people may have heard about “hard water”, but don’t actually understand what it is and how it can impact them. Hard water refers to water that contains a large concentration of minerals and sediments. While we all need some minerals for optimal health, hard water brings all sorts of other issues with it.
One study, in particular, found that residential water bacterial growth can be directly correlated to hard water scaling. This means that not dealing with this issue immediately could end up putting yours and your family’s health at risk. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that you may be dealing with hard water.
Your Water has a Strange Taste or Odor
If your water tastes or smells weird, then it’s one of the first signs that you may have hard water. And the way the water tastes can also give you an indication of what type of build-up you’re dealing with.
For instance, water that has a metallic taste is a clear sign of too much iron. Water that tastes like rotten eggs, on the other hand, is common when water has high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas. Some people will report that their water tastes like dirt. In these cases, this could be actual dirt, aging pipes, or some algae build up.
You Get Weird Stains
This is probably one of the clearest signs that you have hard water. Reddish-brown stains in your toilet are a sign of rust, which can be the result of old pipes. Not only is this bad for your health but can take a lot of time to clean. If you notice these kinds of stains, you can use a vinegar solution to clean them up. But that will only act as a band-aid solution, as they’ll keep reappearing until you do something about your hard water issues.
Soap Reacts Strangely
Another sign that you may have hard water is if you can’t seem to get a nice lather when using your soap. Soap was made to react with neutral water. It will also be harder to remove soap from your skin, which could leave a thin layer of soap on your body.
Hard water could also end up clogging your showerheads. All which means that you’ll get less water pressure. Hard water can also affect your hair and make it much more difficult to manage.
Another thing you should be looking for is if you’re constantly getting soap scum everywhere. White hard water stains happen when the water evaporates and leaves the calcium behind. But when the water is combined with soap, it leaves scum as well. If your dishes always seem to be spotty, this is another sign that there might be something wrong with your water.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about hard water and how to spot it, you can work on a solution. If you noticed any of these, make sure that you work with a professional today, and see what they can do.
