Friday, February 6, 2015

Hard Water in Your Pipes: How You Can Deal With It

Water can be a lot more complicated than most people think. For one, water is a universal solvent and a lot of things can be dissolved by it. When water comes in contact with soil or rocks, like what happens in natural aquifers or rivers, the water erodes away the topmost layers of these rocks or that of the stream bed. This results in trace elements or minerals in the water you use for bathing or drinking. If there is too much mineral content in the water, it becomes hard water.

The trouble with hard water is that the large amount of calcium and magnesium in it makes it difficult for soap and detergents to do their work. Moreover, the mineral content builds up in shower heads and pipes; this can lead to damage to the piping as the minerals accumulate. It can also lower the water pressure in the pipes and create clogs. Hard water can also make it harder for water to get heated because the minerals make it harder to heat. Finally, hard water has an unpleasant taste that can turn people off.

To avoid these problems with hard water, it’s better to have your water treated or conditioned to remove all the excess minerals, so you’ll end up with soft water instead. This can be done through various methods ranging from reverse-osmosis filters to chemical softeners. Consult with your local plumber to see what option is available and best for you.

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