Hard water can be a major pain in more ways than one. You might suffer from dry, flaky skin beyond the norm in cooler seasons, and you might be seeing stains in your tubs, sinks, and toilets. Here is what you need to know about hard water and how to resolve these issues.

What Exactly is Hard Water?

Hard water is present in approximately 85 percent of homes according to the U.S. Geological Survey, so it’s likely that you’ve faced these situations at some point. Hard water is defined as having higher levels of minerals than is desirable in your water. Typically, these minerals are a combination of excessive iron, calcium, manganese, aluminum, and magnesium that are sourced from water that travels through limestone, certain soils, and older or corroded plumbing. These minerals flowing through your plumbing and into the home can source a variety of problems.

The Dilemmas of Hard Water

You’ll likely run into problems if you have hard water in your home. Here are a few telltale indicators that you have hard water.

1. Orange Streaks. Porcelain showers, toilets, and sinks just seem to attract an orange residue that is challenging to remove. This is caused by the presence of iron in hard water, but it could also be sourced from corroded and old pipes that need replacing.
2. Lack of Lather. Does your soap never seem to get as sudsy as you want, or does it seem to stick to skin no matter how long you rinse? Again, those excessive minerals may be impeding your showering efforts.
3. Smelly Water. Bacterial contamination in hard water can cause your water to taste strange and smell funny.
4. Soap Scum Buildup. If you notice an excessive amount of white spots hanging around your fixtures, this is likely due to excessive calcium deposits in your hard water.
5. Clogged Drains. Hard water scale builds up in pipes like plaque does inside of arteries and can cause major plumbing issues without attention.

Solutions for Hard Water Woes

If you notice any of these telltale signs of hard water, you are likely wondering what you can do to alleviate these issues. First, regularly cleaning your ceramics to prevent deposit buildup is the easiest solution. Second, consider investing in faucets and shower heads with filtration systems. However, the most effective solution is to eradicate the problem, which could mean replacing old plumbing pipes with newer modern options or investing in a water softening system that filters out harsh minerals before they flow through your system.

Contact Amanda Plumbing Sewer & Drain Today

Do you need help with your plumbing? Check out the amazing reviews of Amanda Plumbing Sewer & Drain, and then give us a call at 740-369-5156 or contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our plumbing professionals today. Don't forget to check out our other blogs for more helpful plumbing tips!