How To Know if You Have Hard Water & What To Do About It

Everybody deserves to have pure, fresh water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, and more; however, it's unfortunately not always the case. At some point in time, you may be dealing with hard water that can lead to an array of frustrations. To combat this, it’s important to recognize the signs that hard water is present in your home. In this blog, we discuss ways to determine if you've got hard water, along with what you should do to address it.

What Is Hardness in Water?

So, what is hard water? Water hardness is determined by the amount of mineral content present, which can include things like lime, calcium, and magnesium.

At some point, these high levels of minerals can become unhealthy for humans to consume. Additionally, hard water can produce a slimy residue that coats your skin and other appliances.

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

Soft water has a calcium concentration of 0 milligrams to 60 milligrams, whereas hard water has a concentration of 121 mg to 180+ mg. Bottled and distilled water is typically soft, making it ideal for drinking. Because soft water is free from a harmful overabundance of minerals, unlike its hard water counterpart, it's gentle and great for drinking, cooking, bathing, and more.

How You Can Tell if You Have Hard Water

There are several telltale signs that you’re dealing with hard water. A few of the most common signs include:

• Your water leaves a slimy residue and soap scum
• Your skin is dry/itchy
• You notice residue buildup in your shower, tub, or sink
• Your water bills are higher than normal
• Your dishes are spotty after cleaning
• Your hair lacks moisture
• Your water has an off-putting taste
• Your plumbing appliances are met with frequent issues

Additionally, to be certain you’ve got hard water, you can use water test strips to determine the levels of minerals present.

How To Fix Hard Water

Fortunately, there is a key solution for addressing hard water. A great step to take is to implement a water softener; this is a type of filtration system designed to remove those stingy minerals. The water moves through a resin “bed” where an ion exchange occurs, removing said minerals. These filtration systems come in an assortment of sizes and styles to fit your specific needs and can be installed professionally and promptly by the team at Campbell & Company!

Call Campbell & Company for Water Softener Installation

Campbell & Company is a local, family-operated company with 40+ years of experience under our belt. We proudly offer quick, reliable service, convenient scheduling, and free estimates on installations, and all of our services are provided by licensed and insured experts!

Trust us to do it right! Contact our team today at 509-545-9848 to learn more about our water-softening solutions.