What Is Hard Water in Plumbing?
By Aaron Stickley Updated
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The term hard water is used to describe fresh water supply that contains relatively high amounts of the natural minerals calcium and magnesium and a variety of trace metals. Hard water is not bad for your health, but it can cause problems in plumbing and appliances and is considered a nuisance by many homeowners. Understanding exactly what hard water is and how it affects your plumbing can help you determine what, if anything, needs to be done about it.
How Does Water Become Hard?
Although rainwater is pure when it falls from the sky, as it flows from the surface into aquifers, it absorbs minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. This absorption changes it from soft to hard water. The amount of mineral content that water contains determines the hardness level of the water. Water hardness is commonly measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or grains of mineral per gallon (GPG). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measures water hardness as milligrams of calcium carbonate per liter of water and classifies hardness levels as follows:
0–60 mg/L — Soft
61–120 mg/L — Moderately hard
121–180 mg/L — Hard
>181 mg/L — Very hard
What Problems Does Hard Water Cause?
Hard water can be problematic because it reacts with cleaning products, creates soap buildup, and can wear down fixtures and appliances more quickly than soft water. The minerals in hard water react with soap to create a soap scum, inhibiting suds.
This means you need to use more soap with hard water. The buildup of minerals on dishes, clothing, fixtures, and even skin and hair can take their toll over time. Here are some of the common household problems related to hard water:
Scale buildup inside water supply pipes, restricting water flow
Film and scale buildup on ceramic tile and fixtures
Difficulty rinsing off soap and shampoo completely, leaving skin or hair feeling dry or dull
Scale deposits shortening the life of water heaters
Spots on glasses and dishes cleaned in dishwater
Less effective clothes washing due to lack of suds
Increased wear on clothing during washing
What Does Hard Water Do to Plumbing?
The buildup on tubs, shower, sinks, and faucets caused by hard water are only part of the problem. The minerals in hard water also start to build up inside pipes, fixtures, and appliances over time. The buildup we don’t see can start to cause all sorts of plumbing problems, such as reduced water flow, clogs, and increased stress on pipes and fixtures. The mineral deposits can also cause appliances to operate less efficiently and wear down faster. For example, a water heater has to heat all of the mineral scale buildup inside the tank, as well as the water. Overall, hard water can result in less efficient plumbing and more repairs over time.
Testing For Hard Water
White scale buildup on plumbing fixtures is often a good indicator of the presence of hard water. If you suspect that you have hard water, there is a low-tech way to test for it by shaking up a small amount of dish soap and water in a closed container.
If the solution fails to create lots of suds, you probably have hard water. For much more precise results you can contact your water provider and request a recent water testing report. You can also have a sample of your water tested at a local lab or have a company perform an on-site test (just watch out for conflict of interest; for example, you don’t want a test done by a water softener company). Another option is to use a water hardness test strip (sold at home centers and hardware stores) that you hold under running water then match to a color gauge.
Solutions For Hard Water
Water-conditioning products are available and can be used for dealing with mildly hard water. However, the most complete and common solution for treating hard water is a whole-house water softener. Installing a water softener system in cases where the water tests above 3 GPG is often the most effective and efficient solution.