How To Tell If You Have Hard Water in Your Home?

Jun 3, 2022 | Hard Water, Columbus, How To, OH, Ohio, Plumbing, Plumbing Services

Water is required for our everyday existence, and as homeowners, we often take it for granted. People require water to live, after all. Typically, our water is safe as long as the tap is on and clear water is flowing. However, it’s worth noting that this isn’t always the case. It may be difficult to determine whether or not your home has hard water, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your house’s plumbing and how it works.

However, even if the water is hard, our experts at Five Star Columbus Plumbing can evaluate your property and recommend the best remedy for you, your family, and your home. Nevertheless, if you’re not sure if you have hard water in your home, below are some typical signs that could help indicate hard water in your home.

Do You Have Residue Build-Up on Your Faucets, Sinks, and Tiles?

Did you know that hard water causes soap scum, film, calcium, and scale build-up? Your problems are probably due to hard water if you’re having these issues occur on a regular basis. Moreover, if your dishes aren’t easy to clean or if your toilets and/or showers develop rust-colored stains, it’s an indication that your home has hard water.

Do You Have A Slow Flow of Water?

If your water has a high mineral content, such as magnesium or calcium, your faucets may not function correctly or at all. Also, keep in mind that minerals can accumulate and block the pipes and fittings in your house, thus, causing hard water. Therefore, if your pipes and components become clogged from a high mineral content, it is plausible that your home has hard water.

Is Your Skin Itchy, Irritated, or Dry?

Showers, baths, and even washing your hands with hard water can harm your skin. Because soap residue is more difficult to remove from hard water, it may remain on you after washing, resulting in itchy, irritated, and dry skin. On top of that, if one of your family members has eczema or another kind of skin problem, it might worsen. If this is the case in your home, you should contact a Five Star Columbus Plumbing professional to perform a hard water test.

Does Your Hair Seem Dirty or Dry?

Do you find it difficult to remove the soap from your hair after each shower? Do members of your family complain about dirty or dry hair? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then it might be a sign that you have hard water in your house. Since minerals can build up on your skin or hair during your rining cycle, your hair may not be as clean as it appears. As a result, taking a shower in hard water will leave your skin and hair feeling dry or stripped.

If you experience any of the issues above, your house may have hard water. The only way to be sure is to contact a professional. If you believe your home has hard water, use softener detergent and lather your skin with lotion after you shower. You can also use dishwasher detergents with borax. Keep in mind that each of these treatments should only be employed as a short-term remedy. Contact one of our professionals at Five Star Columbus Plumbing to address your hard water problem at its core. Our plumbers are trained and licensed to install water softeners and other hard-water treatments in your house. So if you want a hard-water test or need a water softener installation, call us now at (614) 401-8086, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here