Does your plumbing keep getting clogged? Are your clothes always dingy-looking? And does your tap water taste weird?
If so, here’s the bad news. These are all signs that your home has hard water. This means that your tap water has an excess of minerals, wreaking havoc on your plumbing, appliances, and even your skin.
Fortunately, we have some good news, too. That is, we’re going to teach you exactly how to combat the negative effects of hard water.
But first, we’re going to list the main signs of hard water so you can be sure that this is the problem. To learn more, read on.
1. Your Tap Water Tastes Weird
One telltale sign of hard water is its unpleasant taste. Specifically, you can taste the surplus of minerals when you drink from the tap.
It may be slightly salty/bitter, like baking soda. Or, it may even taste somewhat metallic.
2. Mineral Deposits and Water Spots
Another very obvious sign is the buildup of mineral deposits on/near every water tap in your house. This residue is white in color, as hard as a rock, and has a rough texture.
If you have hard water, you will definitely see this buildup accrue on every water spout in your home. You will also see whitish water spots on dishes and on any countertops that are near a sink.
3. Dehydrated Skin and Hair
This same mineral buildup we just described also accumulates upon your skin and hair. It can clog pores and cause eczema, dry/irritated skin, and frizzy/brittle hair. Besides that, showers will leave your skin feeling rough and “not quite clean.”
4. Faded, Dingy-Looking Clothes
Speaking of “not quite clean,” do your clothes always look kind of dingy after you wash them? Do they have white blotches or streaks?
This is another way that mineral deposits from hard water show up. Alternatively, the whitish deposits can make your clothes look faded and feel kind of rough and starchy.
5. Plumbing and Appliance Issues
As you can imagine, mineral deposits building up on water spouts and pipes will eventually affect your plumbing. For one thing, it can clog your drains. Plus, it blocks water from coming out of the tap.
This reduces the water flow from the spout while increasing the pressure building up inside your blocked pipes. The resulting pressure can eventually damage your plumbing. Similarly, mineral buildup can also clog/damage appliances that use water, like your dishwasher.
What to Do About Hard Water
To remove mineral deposits, use specialized cleaners that are made to remove hard water stains from specific surfaces. Or, for most surfaces, you can soak the area in vinegar and then scrub it away.
This is only a temporary solution, however. After this initial step, it’s best to prevent hard water by installing a whole-house water softener. For a good example, check out this Kinetico review.
Look For These Signs of Hard Water
Remember this guide and use it to spot the signs of hard water. And, if you do notice these signs, you now know what to do about them. Lastly, please, share this guide with your friends so that they can learn how to deal with hard water, too.
Find more of the best home improvement tips on the internet right here. Check our Home Improvement blog to learn about the benefits of aluminum windows, how to make your home luxurious and elegant, and more.
