Hard water is a common problem for homeowners in and around Mankato. Unfortunately, it can do significant harm to your plumbing if left untreated.

Understanding the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing system and appliances. In this blog, the experts at Northern Comfort Inc will define what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Then, we’ll explain how we can protect your home.

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

What is hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are safe for consumption but can harm your plumbing.

On the other hand, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is plumbing-friendly.

Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:

  • Chalky buildup on fixtures
  • Low 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 Northern Comfort Inc for a professional water quality assessment. Our knowledgeable staff will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we have a clear understanding of your water quality and how to fix it.

Frequently Reported Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why does it matter if you are dealing with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to attach to the inside of your pipes, which hardens into something called limescale.

Limescale buildup narrows the diameter of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or damage.

Below are some examples of the issues that hard water limescale deposits can cause throughout your plumbing system:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create rough surfaces. This speeds up corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is most likely in older metal plumbing.

Damage to Your Appliances

Mineral limescale buildup in your dishwasher can result in costly damage. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to break down sooner.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale accumulates inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of low water pressure, such as less powerful showers 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 stubborn soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Forms when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to create insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t dissolve.
  • Hard water stains: Left behind when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral residue. It can appear as chalky buildup near faucets, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even discolor your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have rust-colored staining if your water is high in iron.

Easy, Afforable Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Northern Comfort Inc

What can you do about hard water? From evaluation and testing to prevention, Northern Comfort Inc provides complete hard water solutions in Mankato. We fix hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore water flow.

Our plumbing services also prevent new hard water damage from happening with water softener installation. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Water softeners and filtration solutions limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage now! Contact a local plumber from Northern Comfort Inc by calling 507-387-6596 today!