Hard water is more than just a nuisance for home or property owners; it can cause serious issues and quickly turn into a money trap. The truth is, not treating hard water is more costly than investing in a water softening system, because it deteriorates your appliances and your plumbing at a faster rate (and most likely your resolve if you let it). Having to replace pipes and appliances in half the time you’d expect is not fun, especially when it’s avoidable. If you’re experiencing any of the following signs of hard water, it may not be too late to get help.
Hard Water Reduces Life of Your Water Heater (and Other Appliances)
Home owners know just how costly it is to have to replace a water heater, a dishwasher, a washing machine, or fridge. All of your water-using appliances tend to cost hundreds to thousands of dollars apiece. When hard water deposits minerals into these appliances and evaporates, the machine and connected plumbing becomes clogged and eventually unusable. If you feel that your water pressure has diminished, or that your appliances are breaking down much too quickly, hard water is likely the cause.
Hard Water Leaves Soap Scum on Your Dishes and Rings Around Your Drains
Cleaning is already a chore without having to regularly deal with hard water marks and scum. While you can solve the problem with dishes by hand washing and towel drying, cleaning water marks off your shower door and drains requires more than just elbow grease. Since the water you’re most likely cleaning with has a high concentration of minerals, it could aggravate the condition. This is because the water left on the area evaporates and then leaves a grimy residue behind.
Try this homemade cleaning solution to treat the hard water stains on your bathtub or sink. Slowly mix together equal parts baking soda andvinegar until you have enough of this paste to cover the area. Let this mixture sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse with water. Immediately wipe the area dry, so that the hard water is not left to sit and evaporate, further contributing to the problem.
A Free Test for Hard Water near Austin Determines How Hard Your Water Is
If you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned problems, it’s time to call in the water softening experts at American Water. Give us a call today at (512) 388-0022 to schedule your free in-home water analysis. Based on the mineral content of your water, we help you find the water softener system that works best for your home to effectively treat hard water.