Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Cottonwood. Unfortunately, it can cause serious damage if left untreated.

Learning the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing, appliances and fixtures In this blog, the pros at Connolly Electric & Mechanical will explain what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Most importantly, you’ll learn what we can do to protect your home.

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

So, what exactly is hard water? It’s water that has a high level of of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are safe for consumption but can damage your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is plumbing-friendly.

Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

If you have hard water, you may see several warning signs:

  • Whiteish mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures
  • Reduced water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather very much
  • Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher

If you notice any of these signs, call Connolly Electric & Mechanical for professional testing. Our team will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness 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 forms something called limescale.

Limescale in plumbing narrows the diameter of your pipes, which can restrict water flow and even cause clogs or breaks.

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 inside pipes can create uneven surfaces. This speeds up corrosion and increases the likelihood of small leaks. This is most likely in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your water heater can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.

Low Water Pressure

As limescale forms inside pipes, it chokes off water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as weaker shower streams 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 noticeable soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Forms when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to produce insoluble salts. This cloudy residue doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Formed when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as mineral rings on fixtures, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have a reddish tint if your water is also high in iron.

Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Connolly Electric & Mechanical

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Connolly Electric & Mechanical provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Cottonwood. We repair 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 prevent new hard water damage from happening by installing a water softener. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. Water softeners and filtration solutions reduce limescale in your plumbing, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage in your plumbing! Contact a local plumber from Connolly Electric & Mechanical by calling 928-862-5977 today!