If you have found that your soap is not lathering in the shower or the sink, and you have lime build up inside your toilets or scum around your tub, chances are there could be a problem with your water. Hard water, or water with a high concentration of certain minerals, is likely to blame for your water woes.
But, your troubles likely can be fixed, says Mark Wethington of B&J Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning. First, you will need to know what you are looking for.
How to test your water
As Wethington explains, there are a number of ways to check for hard water:
- If you have a dishwasher, take a clean glass from it. Is there a cloudy residue left on the surface?
- Fill a glass with water from the tap. Does that look cloudy too?
- Try washing your hands. Does the soap not lather as quickly as it should?
- Investigate your toilet, sinks and tub. Do you see scum or lime building up? Make note of how long after you clean it does it come back.
If you have answered yes to most of the questions, then chances are you have hard water in your home. To be certain, you can get your water tested for its current mineral content levels. Contact your municipality’s water authority to find labs in your area that can test your water.
Types of hard water
There are two types of hard water:
- Temporary Hardness: This means that the minerals in your water, like calcium and bicarbonate, can be removed by boiling the water.
- Permanent Hardness: This means that too many minerals are in the water, and they cannot be removed from boiling.
However, contrary to the latter type’s name, both forms of water hardness can be removed from your home.
Quick fixes and long-term solutions
To fix your drinking water, if you have temporary hardness, then you can boil water to remove some of the minerals and then store the water for drinking. Or, you may opt for filtered water. Many filters can be attached directly to your faucet, or you can also by pitchers which have a filtration system attached.
For your sinks, showers and toilets, specific cleaning agents are available in hardware or grocery stores to treat and prevent lime further lime buildup.
But, it is important to know that hard water can also wreak havoc on your pipes, and the scaling that occurs can break water heaters and toilets. For more permanent relief, you can install water softeners to your home that remove the minerals from your water and replace them with sodium, explains Wethington. You won’t be able to taste the salt, but you will see a major improvement in your water.
So, alas, you can stop clipping coupons for “extra lathering” soap and finally hang up the rubber gloves and soft scrub. Call your local plumber and find out what solutions are possible for you.
