Hard water is the bane of many homeowners. Caused by an extra amount of minerals in the water provided by a utility or municipal source as tap water, hard water has a notorious reputation for long-term damage. It ruins pipes, stains and scales bathtubs and showers, causes premature wear on fixtures, seals and clothing, and it can't be turned off. In fact, the only way to get rid of hard water in a neighborhood that has it involves filtering out the excess minerals. This comes with its own challenges; many filtering systems use salt, which ends up causing diet and health issues as well. So, hard water is a complicated challenge.
The Culprits that Make Up Hard Water
In most cases, the sources causing the problem tend to be minerals that dissolve easily into water. These include calcium and magnesium as the most identified. Those two minerals alone contribute to the hardness of water as well as its side effects that cause damage. When those minerals are also combined with sanitizing chemicals like chlorine and various acids, the combination becomes even stronger with effect.
Signs of Hard Water Damage
The most visible symptoms, some already described above, are caused by the deposit and accumulation of tiny mineral elements as water dries out and evaporates. They tend to cling to each other, and over time become visible. Probably the most important and damaging is the effect hard water has on pipes and plumbing connections. Anything that involves rubber is going to be eaten up and damaged by hard water. Hard water also enhances corrosion in metal and speeds up oxidation. Faucets with tiny openings like showerheads can clog up as the minerals clump together. The same also damages the mechanical functions, especially in dishwashers. This is one of the reasons people are advised to use vinegar to clean shower heads; vinegar acts as a mild acid that can break down hard water minerals.
Health-wise, hard water has a noticeable effect on skin, causing hand and facial areas, which get the most contact, to dry out. Common symptoms include dry skin, flaking, irritation and more serious issues like eczema, dandruff and more. Shampoo and moisturizers can help, but the primary issue keeps causing the problem because water is so fundamental to daily life.
Repair Options and Treatment
Again, filtering is the most go-to solution for hard water. This comes in the form of a water treatment system installed in a home that runs all the incoming water feed through, producing filtered water stripped of minerals. However, these systems do tend to leave a high level of salt content, a different mineral used to make the water "soft."
Cleaning of exit points, i.e. faucets and shower heads, can help reduce some of the hard water effect, but it is topical at best. This approach will improve the flow out of these fixtures, but it won't prevent the hardwater from being present.
Making the Commitment to a Solution
Municipal systems and water companies are not going to go out of their way to reduce hard water effects. It's simply too expensive. So, in terms of what to do about hard water, homeowners need to be prepared to live with the damage and replace things more frequently or the water needs to be treated before use. Again, water treatment systems can be integrated with a home's water supply so that the entire home then enjoys soft water benefits. This will become apparent in better-feeling skin, less clothes damage, longer-lasting appliances and more. While a water treatment system can be an investment, it pays dividends in the amount of damage avoided going forward.