Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Reinholds. Unfortunately, it can cause serious damage if left untreated.

Knowing the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing system and appliances. In this blog, the pros at County Line Mechanical LLC will explain what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Then, we’ll explain how we can protect your home.

What’s the Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?

What is hard water? It’s water that has a high level of of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

Soft water, by contrast has those minerals removed. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home

If you have hard water, you may see several warning signs:

  • Whiteish mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures
  • Low water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather very much
  • Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher

If you experienced any of these issues, call County Line Mechanical LLC for a professional water quality assessment. Our team will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we have a clear understanding of your water quality and how to fix it.

Frequently Reported Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why does it matter if you have an issue with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to stick to the inside of your pipes, which hardens into something called limescale.

Limescale buildup narrows the diameter of your pipes, which can restrict water flow and even cause clogs or leaks.

The following are examples of the issues that hard water limescale deposits can cause throughout your plumbing system:

Plumbing Leaks

Hard water scale buildup along the inside of pipes can create uneven surfaces. This speeds up corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is most likely in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your dishwasher can result in costly damage. It forces these appliances to strain to operate by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale forms inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as weaker shower streams or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is stubborn soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Develops when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to produce insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t wash off.
  • Hard water stains: Left behind when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as mineral rings on fixtures, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even cloud your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have rust-colored staining if your water is high in iron.

Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with County Line Mechanical LLC

What can you do about hard water? From evaluation and testing to prevention, County Line Mechanical LLC provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Reinholds. We repair hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore water flow.

Our plumbing services also prevent new hard water damage from happening by setting up a water softening system. We also can help you find the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. Filtration systems and water softeners limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage in its tracks! Contact a local plumber from County Line Mechanical LLC by calling 717-583-8648 today!