# 3 Signs that you May Have Hard Water

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/03/3-signs-that-you-may-have-hard-water/
- Published: 2020-03-17T14:27:19-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

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. 

![Water tastes determine hard water](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/
uploads/2020/03/img_4095.jpg?resize=150%2C150&quality=52&ssl=1 "img_4095 - The Green
Living Guy")

[Royalty Free Photo](https://pixabay.com/photos/hand-washing-soap-wash-hygiene-4818792/)

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](https://www.discountfilterstore.com/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](https://sciencing.com/effects-algae-drinking-water-7630835.html).

#### **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](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/11/showerheads-from-waterpik-that-are-eco-friendly-nice/).
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.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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