Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Nebraska. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.

Learning the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your home plumbing Here, the pros at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning 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 Between Hard Water and Soft Water?

What is hard water? It’s water that has a high level of of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:

  • Chalky buildup on fixtures
  • Reduced water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up when you wash your hair
  • Spots on glasses after washing in dishwasher

If you notice any of these signs, call Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning for professional testing. Our team 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.

Common 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 in plumbing narrows the interior of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or leaks.

The following are examples of the damage hard water limescale buildup can cause in your home’s pipes:

Plumbing Leaks

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

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your water heater can lead to big problems. It forces these appliances to work harder by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to wear out faster.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale builds up inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as less powerful showers or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is unsightly soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to produce insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as chalky buildup near faucets, as well as visible residue 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.

Easy, Afforable Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Nebraska. We repair hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore flow and efficiency.

Our plumbing services also stop additional hard water issues before they start by setting up a water softening system. 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 clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage in its tracks! Contact a local plumber from Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 402-581-9641 today!