Ever thought about the negative effects that hard water has on your family and home? In this post we will look at the problems that hard water can cause in our everyday lives.

What is hard water?

The water that comes out of your taps isn’t all H20. Water companies add a few extras to our water supply, such as fluoride. There are other things present too, like trace minerals magnesium, iron and calcium.  It is these deposits which result in hard water. Groundwater often filters through limestone, where it picks up deposits of minerals, other minerals will be picked up from soil, lakes, and rivers.

These minerals are not necessarily bad for you. In fact, they are valuable nutrients we require in our daily diets. However, the sediment can carry some potentially harmful bacteria. Supersavvyme.co.uk state:

“It’s a fact: limescale, in small quantities, does not have any bad repercussions on your organism. On the contrary: most mineral waters you find in stores have minerals like magnesium and calcium that are good for your body. In general, natural spring waters have the right balance of these minerals to help us stay healthy!”

Hard water signs

• Are your appliances wearing out quickly? This tell-tale sign is common in hard water areas. Mineral deposits in your water supply will cause a build-up of limescale. It can turn into an expensive problem, especially if you need to replace appliances regularly due to limescale. Scaly kettles are just the tip of the iceberg! Hard water sediment accumulation in your washing machine, dishwasher or boiler will make it work less efficiently. This means an increase in utility bills.
• Is your laundry looking dingy? When you wash your clothes, the detergent will wash away the dirt and grime, but if you have hard water the detergent does not get rinsed away properly. It can increase soil build-up on your laundry, making it look dull and feel rough.
• Clogged up showerheads and dusty looking taps and sinks? Hard water leaves dusty white deposits over everything it comes into contact with. This is because when the water evaporates it leaves behind the mineral deposits that were present in the water. Hard water will make it more difficult to get a froth out of your shampoo and shower gel too. This is because soap and hard water minerals do not work well together.
• Strange taste and smell to your water? If your water tastes slightly metallic, this means there is too much iron present.
• Dry skin problems can also be caused by hard water. This is because washing in hard water leaves behind soap, which can irritate the skin, causing it to feel dry and itchy and look flaky. Hard water can make existing skin conditions, such as eczema, much worse. The mineral deposits left behind after washing suck moisture out of the skin, making skin feel even drier.

What can help?

Installing a water softener in your home will remove the mineral deposits from your water supply. This will make your appliances work better and in turn, save you money. Most water softeners work by passing water through tanks containing food-grade resin beads as it enters your home. Salt present in the water will attach to the resin and the soft water passes through.

Water conditioners, softening tablets and liquids are sometimes used to help remove mineral deposits in appliances. Using these products in your home will help you in the fight against hard water and limescale.