8 Signs You Might Have Hard Water

Homestead Comfort can install a water treatment system in your home.

As many as 90 percent of American homes have hard water. If your home is dealing with excessive minerals in your tap water, it could impact your home appliances, clothes, dishes and even your family’s health.

Homestead Comfort’s >water services team has dealt with many hard water situations in homes in Manchester, Glastonbury and Hebron and other northern Connecticut communities. We know what to look for and how to combat the problem effectively.

What is hard water?

Measuring hardness in water means determining how much dissolved calcium and magnesium is in it. Hard water has over 60 milligrams per liter of these minerals. (Very hard water has 121 milligrams per liter or more.)

These minerals can build up in pipes and fixtures. They can affect how well soap cleans your hands, body, clothes and dishes, and they can make foods and beverages taste strange.

How can you tell if you have hard water?

Here are eight warning signs that your home might have hard water.

1. “Soap scum” and other scale deposits — Look at your kitchen and bathroom fixtures and see if these deposits are present.
2. White spots on glassware, silverware and appliances — In particular, you should check your coffee maker.
3. Faded clothing — Calcium and magnesium can take a toll on fabrics.
4. Lingering stains after washing clothes — Conversely, hard water makes laundry detergent less effective.
5. More sediment in your water heater, boiler or other equipment — Left unattended, the sediment buildup in these systems and appliances can significantly increase wear and tear, costing you a lot on maintenance.
6. Dry, itchy skin — Hard water can clog pores and irritate your skin. It can increase occurrences of acne and other skin blemishes.
7. Reduced water flow — Minerals from hard water can build up in your home’s plumbing, weakening your pipes and reducing your flow rate.
8. Discolored floors, counters and tiles — Wiping and mopping surfaces with hard water can lead to a less-than-clean appearance.

If you’re noticing any of these issues in your home, there is a decent chance you have a hard water problem. Luckily, Homestead Comfort has the solution.

How can Homestead Comfort resolve hard water problems?

We are proud to partner with Shaw’s Pump Company to install water treatment systems in Connecticut households.

Our hard water treatment process begins by testing your water and determining what water filtration, purification and softening systems you may need. We’ll take you through your options, then install your water treatment equipment. We’re confident that you’ll experience immediate improvements in your water quality.

Homestead Comfort also services and repairs water treatment systems. We can perform a yearly 10-point water system tune-up. We’ll test your home water’s hardness and pH levels, look at your system’s mechanisms, purge your system, change filters, reset timers and add media to your water if needed.

Suspect your home has hard water? Reach out to Homestead Comfort today for a water quality assessment.