Trying to find out if your home has hard water is paramount to your health and the overall lifespan of your plumbing system and water-using appliances. Hard water has a high magnesium and calcium content, which can cause a number of problems, such as the gradual formation of limescale in pipes and the diminished efficacy of laundry detergents and soaps. Water hardness testing can tell you whether and how to fix your water’s problems.
Why Is Hard Water Bad for You and Your Home?
People who live in areas with hard water often experience problems with their plumbing. It’s also not uncommon for hard water to affect one’s personal hygiene routine. Hard water can cause major limescale accumulation on pipes, showerheads and faucets. If left unaddressed, your drains and pipes will likely clog and there might be low water pressure. If the clogs become severe, you might have to deal with frustrating backups and water damage. Mineral deposits don’t only affect the pipes and drains.
They can also impact the functionality of your appliances. Over time, appliances like dishwashers and washers might not work as effectively, requiring frequent repairs or replacements. For the average individual, hard water can cause a film to form on their hair and skin, which might make them feel less clean and dry. You may find that your shampoo and soap don’t foam up to your expectations or that your dishes and glasses end up stained after washing.
Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Hard Water
Your home is more likely to have hard water if you live in an area where the soil has a lot of magnesium and calcium. Outdated plumbing can also impact water hardness; this is because mineral deposits form easier in older pipes. Homes that use private wells are more likely to experience hard water problems than those that use municipal water systems, which often undergo treatment to lower hardness levels.
Before You Do the Test
You’ll need to gather a clean sample to get an accurate reading when doing a hard water test. You also need the right equipment. If your home has just had major plumbing work done to it, hold off for a few days before doing the testing. The same applies if you’ve recently had a new water filter installed. Always take the sample from a faucet that you normally use, like one in your kitchen.
What You Need
For a soapsuds test, you’ll need liquid dishwashing soap and a see-through, cap-topped container. This test is useful for determining the hardness of water by watching how efficiently the soap makes bubbles. A water hardness test kit can provide a more accurate reading. These test kits typically include directions as well as reagents or color-coded strips that, when mixed with the minerals in the water, will reveal the water’s hardness level.
How to Do the Soadsuds Test
To do a soapsuds test, fill the transparent bottle approximately halfway with water from your faucet. Screw the top on tightly after adding a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the container. Give the bottle a good shake for ten to fifteen seconds and then check to see how much foam or lather develops. A lack of foam or soap appearing to sink to the bottom is a sign of hard water. The opposite is true for water that makes a consistent, rich lather; this indicates that the water is soft.
How to Use a Test Kit for Hard Water
If you use a test kit, start by gathering water in a clean container. To conduct the test, add the reagent to the water sample as directed. The reaction between the reagent and the minerals in the water causes a color shift that is proportional to the water’s hardness. To determine the hardness level, check the color against the included chart.
Treatment Options for Hard Water
If the testing process confirms your suspicions of hard water, there are several solutions available. A water softener, which filters out magnesium and calcium ions through ion exchange, is one solution. You can install this system at the entrance to your home’s water supply to soften all of the water that goes into your residence. Water conditioning systems are another alternative; these systems can use a variety of technologies, including salt-free softening and reverse osmosis, among others. Maintaining and monitoring your treatment system on a regular basis is crucial to ensuring its continued effectiveness in meeting your water quality requirements.
To book hard water testing for your home and to check out the different solutions available in your area, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.