Do your dishes never seem to get clean even after running them through the machine several times? Struggling with clogs and weird stains on your plumbing fixtures? You may be one of the many homeowners in Dayton dealing with hard water.
Can hard water cause plumbing problems? It sure can. Learn about the impact hard water has on your plumbing system below, then call our trusted plumbers in Dayton, OH, for solutions.
What Is Hard Water?
What, exactly, is hard water? It’s water that contains a high amount of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. These minerals dissolve in the water and make their way through your plumbing system, wreaking all kinds of havoc on your pipes and appliances.
Ohio is infamous for its hard water problem. The average water hardness for Ohio is 155 PPM (parts per million), and Dayton has the hardest water in the state at 362 PPM.
Can Hard Water Cause Plumbing Problems for Your Dayton, OH, Home?
Can hard water cause plumbing problems? Yes, especially for homeowners in Dayton, where water hardness is off-the-charts high. Here are just a few ways in which hard water harms your plumbing.
Clogged Pipes
As hard water moves through your pipes, the minerals it contains leave deposits throughout your plumbing system called limescale. If you were to peek inside your pipes, you might see these chalky white deposits.
Limescale buildup is problematic because it can eventually clog your pipes, cutting off the water flow. You’ll have to use a limescale remover or call a plumber to fix the problem.
Appliance Damage
The mineral deposits from hard water don’t just wreck your pipes. Any water-using appliance, such as your dishwasher, washer, and coffee maker, can struggle, too.
You might notice that your coffee tastes odd, or your dishes and laundry never seem to get clean. Eventually, your appliances may stop working completely. These are surefire signs that you have a hard water problem.
Clogged Faucets and Showerheads
Does your showerhead only spray water through a few holes? Poor water flow indicates that something is clogging your showerhead, and it’s probably mineral buildup. You might also see chalky white stuff on the showerhead and around your faucets.
While you can clean your showerhead, it’s only a temporary fix. The problem will return unless you fix it at the source.
Reduced Water Heater Efficiency
Can hard water cause plumbing problems for your water heater? Definitely. Over time, limescale builds up on your unit’s coils, which are responsible for heating the water. The result? Water takes much longer to heat. It may take several minutes for the shower to heat up to your desired temperature, for example.
Because the system has to work much harder to heat your water, it suffers serious wear and tear. Neglect to fix the problem in time, and you might need to replace the water heater prematurely.
Higher Water Bills
If your water bills are through the roof, your home’s hard water may be to blame. When your appliances struggle under the strain of hard water, they have to work much harder. Additionally, you’ll have to use more water for tasks like showering and washing clothes.
Compare your water bills to the amount of water you think you use. If the numbers don’t make sense, you likely have an issue with hard water.
How To Address Hard Water Problems
The best way to solve a hard water problem is to install a water softener in your Dayton home. Water softeners work by swapping out calcium and magnesium ions for potassium or sodium ions.
Alternatively, consider installing scale inhibitors on your plumbing fixtures. They release polyphosphates, which bind to mineral ions and prevent limescale buildup. Water conditioners can help with descaling your pipes, too.
Regular maintenance is a must for Dayton residents who have hard water. During maintenance, a plumber will inspect your pipes and plumbing fixtures for damage caused by hard water. They’ll also suggest solutions to help you manage limescale buildup.
Can Hard Water Cause Plumbing Problems? Yes! Call Our Experts in Dayton, OH, for Solutions
Can hard water cause plumbing problems? If you don’t promptly address your hard water problem, yes. Butler Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing offers a wide range of solutions for resolving hard water, including water softeners from the best brands in the industry. Call now to discuss water softener installation, or keep reading to learn about the health impacts of hard and soft water.