It’s common for homes in the San Antonio, TX area to experience hard water. Hard water exists when there are high concentrations of calcium and magnesium present in the water coming into your house. This isn’t necessarily bad for your health, as minerals play a role in normal bodily functions. However, it can be dangerous for certain people with kidney problems or sensitive skin. Also, hard water can lead to issues with your plumbing system and appliances that utilize water, like your dishwasher and washing machine. There are steps you can take to improve the quality of the water in your home if you’re concerned with the impact of hard water.
What Causes Water Hardness?
Water naturally moves through the rock and soil that’s in the ground prior to it becoming part of your home’s water source. It’s common for things like limescale and gypsum to have high levels of hard minerals in them. Both limescale and gypsum are common in San Antonio, making hard water a concern for many. Water is hard if hard mineral grains per gallon (gpg) are seven or higher. A gpg measurement of 10.5 or more equates to very hard water.
Why Is Hard Water a Problem?
It takes some time for hard water to cause problems with your plumbing system or related appliances. In areas with very high concentrations of hard minerals in the water, it takes approximately six months for limescale to develop to a point where pipes narrow and flow and pressure are impacted. You may notice that the water coming from your faucets and fixtures is at a lower pressure than usual when limescale has formed. In areas where hard water is prevalent but not as severe, it can take years for problems like this to occur.
Another area of your home that may be impacted by hard water is your hot water heater. Tank-based hot water heating systems have an anode rod on the interior of the tank. This rod collects minerals and sediment to protect the rest of the tank and the important interior components of your heater. This rod usually needs to be replaced once every few years. However, it’s not impossible for mineral deposits to form in other areas of your water heating system. This can lead to a decrease in system efficiency, which raises your monthly utility bills. You may also notice that your access to hot water is impacted, which can be a major inconvenience. Your water heater may work harder to generate hot water, leading to equipment strain and malfunction.
Your dishwasher may develop limescale over time, preventing dishes from getting completely clean. You may also notice an issue with water pressure or flow. Hard water can make your dishes appear dirty or have water spots on them no matter how well you’re cleaning them or the products you’re using.
Your washing machine can experience similar issues with water flow, leading to leaks and product damage. Clothing that’s washed using hard water can appear dirty, stiff, or worn.
How to Detect Issues With Hard Water
It can be difficult to detect hard water since it can take many months or years for problems to occur. We know that hard water is a problem in our area, which provides valuable information that helps you take action to safeguard your plumbing system and appliances. There are signs you can watch out for that indicate hard water as well.
Spotting Hard Water Residue
If you have hard water in your house, you may notice a white or chalky residue on dishes, faucets, and fixtures. This residue is likely present on the inside of many of your fixtures and appliances as well.
Skin and Hair Problems
If your hair appears dirty or dry even after showering and using hydrating products, hard water may be to blame. Hard water leaves behind a film of minerals, which can negatively impact the appearance and feel of your hair. This can occur on your skin as well, leading to itchy irritation. Hard water can make skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis worse, too.
Scheduling Frequent Plumbing Repairs
If you note that you’re frequently scheduling the same plumbing repairs over and over, hard water may be causing problems. This also applies if you’re replacing appliances that use water more frequently than should be necessary. The typical lifespan of a dishwasher is approximately seven years or longer. A washing machine should last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. While daily use and routine maintenance can impact longevity, hard water may also be the reason for premature wear and tear.
Dealing With Hard Water in Your Home
You can’t change the quality of the water in our area, but you can change the water quality in your home’s plumbing system. There are also methods of protecting your appliances and plumbing system from the effects of hard water.
Water Softener Installation and Benefits
A water softener can be installed near the main water inlet in your house. This equipment removes magnesium and calcium from your water and replaces them with sodium or potassium ions using an ion exchange process. Negatively charged resin beads hold onto hard minerals, which are flushed away during a regeneration cycle that periodically runs. Water softeners typically treat all the water in your home, providing you with protection for appliances, pipes, fixtures, hair, skin, and more.
Filtration Devices
Most water filtration equipment doesn’t have the ability to filter out hard minerals. However, a descaling filter can alter the structure of calcium and magnesium in a way that prevents the buildup of limescale.
You can also invest in a reverse osmosis system to filter out hard minerals. An RO system pushes water through a semipermeable membrane using high levels of pressure. This is when hard minerals and other contaminants are removed. Water is then held in a storage tank until you need it. Most RO systems require the use of several filters, which need to be replaced every six to 12 months. You can purchase an RO system for drinking water only or for whole-house use.
Routine Plumbing Maintenance From a Professional
It’s important to schedule water heater maintenance once per year. This process includes draining and flushing the tank to remove hard minerals and sediment. Inspection of the anode rod will determine if it needs to be replaced. Water softeners and other filtration equipment should be professionally inspected and serviced as well.
If you’re experiencing plumbing issues like low water pressure, frequent appliance problems, leaky pipes, or visible accumulation of hard minerals, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with Rosenberg Plumbing & Air. We can help you catch issues early and provide suggestions for how you can prevent hard water issues. We can also install water softeners and filtration equipment to remove hard minerals. We offer routine plumbing maintenance and inspections as well.
Contact Rosenberg Plumbing & Air in San Antonio today to schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable team for water treatment.
Tags: Plumbing tips, Water softener