Hard water is something many households deal with, but, what causes hard water and how do you know if you have it in your home?
What causes hard water? Hard water is a term that refers to water with a high concentration of minerals such as magnesium and calcium. These minerals are absorbed into the water as it trickles through rock and soil.
There are tests you can do to your home’s water to determine its mineral content, however, there are also some tell-tale signs that indicate you have hard water. For example, you may notice rather unsightly rings of mineral deposit around faucets and toilet bowls. These are often extremely hard to remove. You may also notice a layer of soap scum in your sink and bathtub. There are also more serious issues such as a buildup of limescale deposits in water pipes that will prevent them from working well. If you have solar heating, this may also be affected by a limescale buildup.
In a home with hard water, you can expect any appliance that regularly uses water to be affected. In pots and kettles, etc. you will likely see a buildup of scaly, white deposits. Clothes that are washed in hard water may wear out quicker and appear dull looking, although this will vary depending on water temperature and PH.
As we see from this very brief summary, hard water manifests itself in many ways, so it is easy to determine if the home has it. However, if you are still unsure, tests can be done to find out for certain.
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