Hard water is a common problem for homeowners in and around Narvon. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.

Knowing the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your home plumbing Here, the pros at Ameri-Tec 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 elevated amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

Soft water, by contrast has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is safe for your plumbing.

Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

There are several signs you may have hard water in your home:

  • A chalky, white residue on fixtures
  • Lower water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather very much
  • Spots on glasses after washing in dishwasher

If you see any of these warning signs in your own home, call Ameri-Tec for professional testing. Our knowledgeable staff 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.

Frequent Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

What’s the benefit in knowing if you are dealing with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to cling to the inside of your pipes, which hardens into something called limescale.

Limescale accumulation narrows the available space inside of your pipes, which can restrict water flow and even cause clogs or damage.

The following are examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause in your home’s pipes:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup within plumbing lines can create uneven surfaces. This increases the speed of corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is a greater concern in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your washing machine or boiler can result in costly damage. It forces these appliances to strain to operate by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to break down sooner.

Lower Water Pressure

As limescale accumulates inside pipes, it restricts water flow. You may notice signs of low water pressure, such as reduced spray strength or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Build-Up and Hard Water Stains

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

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This grimy buildup doesn’t wash off.
  • Hard water stains: Left behind when water evaporates and leaves minerals behind. It can appear as chalky buildup near faucets, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on the glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have red or brown hues if your water is also high in iron.

Easy, Afforable Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Ameri-Tec

How do you get rid of hard water? From evaluation and testing to prevention, Ameri-Tec provides complete hard water solutions in Narvon. We fix hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore performance and flow.

Our plumbing services also protect your home from future hard water problems by setting up a water softening system. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. These systems help prevent limescale accumulation, providing clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage today! Contact a local plumber from Ameri-Tec by calling 717-844-9228 today!