You might be surprised to learn that hard water can cause severe damage to your plumbing system, including clogged pipes and fixtures, decreased water pressure, and reduced flow from your taps. Hard water is caused by the presence of high mineral concentrations, such as calcium and magnesium, in your water supply.
And once the underlying steel is exposed, hard water can corrode it quickly... then build up limescale on the pitted surfaces. It may take years for limescale buildup to cause noticeable problems, but, if you have hard water and galvanized pipe, it may have been accumulating for many years, even decades.
Corrosion from excess calcium and magnesium in hard water is devastating for plumbing. Metal pipes, faucets, and more may all be affected. And for homes with copper pipes, the risk is even greater.
Unfortunately, if you have hard water, you can expect to lose 30 percent to 50 percent of an appliance's projected lifespan. Rust and buildup form due to the high amounts of iron, calcium and magnesium found in hard water areas.
Certainly, hard water contains high mineral concentrations. For this reason, it may leave spots. Likewise, when heated, it can leave deposits. Significantly, if these deposits are allowed to remain, they can break down the passive layer and rust stainless steel.
Stainless steel, specifically marine grade stainless steel, is one of the best metals to use in harsh water-related environments due to its robust corrosion resistance. Although stainless steel won't corrode like brass, it's still important to watch out for mineral deposits over a long period of time.
Common Problems
Hard water can be problematic because it reacts with cleaning products, creates soap buildup, and can wear down fixtures and appliances more quickly than soft water. The minerals in hard water react with soap to create soap scum, inhibiting suds.
People often choose to soften showers, sinks, and laundry hookups. Toilets, hose bibs, basement sinks, and other cold water taps typically do not need to be connected to a softener. In many cases, people choose to soften only the hot water.
The most effective way to address hard water is with a water softener. Water is softened when calcium and magnesium—the hardness ions—are collected by tiny resin beads through a process called ion exchange. The resin beads are charged with sodium or potassium ions.
A water softener will gradually dissolve the existing scale buildup. The time it takes will depend on how much build-up your pipes have endured. Limescale that has been building up over the years can sometimes take a while to remove from your system.
Hard water stains appear as chalky white residue that results from buildup of excess minerals present in hard water. You might have noticed these unsightly hard water stains building up on your shower doors, faucets, showerheads, and other places where water is used throughout your home.
Permanent Hardness of Water
When the soluble salts of magnesium and calcium are present in the form of chlorides and sulphides in water, we call it permanent hardness because this hardness cannot be removed by boiling. We can remove this hardness by treating the water with washing soda.
Approximately 85% of homes have hard water, according to the U.S Geological Survey (USGS).
The Reason Hard Water Damages Hair
It can also make hair dull, frizzy, stiff, and more prone to tangles. These effects are heightened when hair is washed with hard water over a long period of time. The buildup may be more difficult to penetrate with serums, masks, or other treatments.
Hard water will contain higher levels of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, while soft water will contain higher levels of sodium (salt). Both soft and hard water are considered safe to drink, but there are benefits and downsides to consuming each kind of water on a daily basis.
Toilets can also become damaged from hard water over time. When you flush a toilet, water usually travels from under the rim down into the bowl. Those small holes in the toilet rim tend to gradually become clogged. As a result, the proper amount of water isn't released into the toilet bowl during a flush.
Every homeowner wants to own a clean and shiny bathroom with a squeaky clean toilet. However, hard water stains and limescale in the toilet bowl can make your whole bathroom look bad. Besides, limescale does not only make your toilet look dirtier than it is, but it can also clog the flushing jets and pipework.
A stainless steel sink protector is also known as a sink grid or sink rack. It is placed at the bottom of the kitchen stainless steel sink and protects it from damage. Also, it can ward off water spots from forming on your stainless steel sink.
Add a softener to your water. Many commercially available softeners add sodium ions to water to soften it and reduce the effect of dissolved calcium and magnesium. For people who have an issue with sodium, there are some hard water treatments that use potassium ions instead. Use a mechanical softener.