Hard water contains large amounts of dissolved calcium, magnesium, iron, and other particles. It happens because water picks up these minerals from rocks and soil when it flows through rivers, wells, or other waterways. Water with more than 61 milligrams of calcium carbonate per liter is considered to be hard water. Depending on what country or which city you live in, you can have residential hard water coming in from your main city source.
How can I tell if I have hard water?
There is a simple test you can do at home to test if you have hard water.
Simply fill a glass or bottle with some tap water and add a squirt of soap. If the water is soft, the water will remain clear because there are no minerals for the soap to engage. If you mix it together, bubbles and lather will form.
If you have hard water, barely any lather will form, and the water will immediately become cloudy. There is a reaction between the soap and the minerals in the water, causing the participants that fall to the bottom.
More telltale signs you have residential hard water
Soap is primarily made of a white solid called sodium stearate, which, with the help of water, carries away dirt and oil.
Normally, the components of soap dissolve in water, which is what causes a good lather, but in hard water, the soap reacts with the minerals forming insoluble compounds.
That makes it more difficult to get a good lather from your soap in hard water.
Residential hard water is also the cause of the soap scum that you see on the sides of your bathtub and your taps. Soap scum isn’t actually soap at all; it’s the minerals in the water that the soap is drawing out.
It also leaves behind limescale, which occurs when the water is heated, or when it sits for too long, and the minerals solidify as the water evaporates.
To avoid this, a lot of people choose to soften their water with a water softening system.
Is it safe to drink this type of water?
Residential hard water is actually preferred over soft water because it contains essential minerals. It not only has health benefits, but even the flavor is better than soft water.
Soft water is only better for household us; hard water is better for drinking.
What are the other disadvantages of hard water?
As already mentioned, it causes soap scum to be left behind on your taps and reduces lather of soap and shampoo during showers or baths.
Hard water can also cause mineral buildup in your appliance’s pipes. It can produce corrosion and rust, which reduces the efficiency of your heating elements in your water heaters.
It can also cause your towels to become less absorbent and cause your hair to tangle and stiffen.
When you wash your clothes, it can even cause your laundry to feel stiffer and look less vibrant.
Find out more about ensuring you have safe drinking water in Chandler AZ. Contact All Elite Water today for more information.