Blogs from September, 2021

Most of us take the water that comes from our taps for granted. As little as a century or two ago or so, having reliable access to clean, safe water was exceedingly rare and a privilege enjoyed by only the wealthiest people. Today, this water is available almost anywhere, including in multiple places throughout your home. However, while this water may be safe to use and suitable for most of your day-to-day activities, it probably isn’t as high-quality as you might be led to believe.

Water quality is actually a bigger problem for many homes than most people realize, and this is why almost any homeowner could benefit from some kind of a water quality system, such as water softening or water filtration. Do you have a water quality problem? It can be hard to tell unless you have your water chemically tested by a professional. But there are a few ways you can figure out if your water quality isn’t as high as you might believe, and the tell-tale signs are easier to spot.

Excessive Limescale on Faucets

Limescale is the name given to that hard, chalky, white or gray-colored residue that tends to accumulate and build up on certain types of metals used to construct your plumbing system. Often composed of minerals like calcium and magnesium, limescale is incredibly difficult to get rid of purely because it chemically bonds to the metal it builds up on, and dissolving it can be somewhat difficult. While limescale isn’t necessarily harmful to you (in fact, calcium is an important part of our diet), it is unsightly and can make a space feel dirty.

Limescale is also a sign that you have an extremely common problem: hard water. The overwhelming majority of homes throughout both our area and the country as a whole have issues with excessive mineral content in their water, and the problem can lead to some annoying headaches. For example, hard water contributes to plumbing fixtures falling apart faster than they should. One such example is your water heater—as your tank continually refills and empties, limescale builds up in the form of sediment at the bottom of your tank. Flushing your tank slows this process, but eventually, it will lead to the tank needing to be replaced quicker than it otherwise would.

Dry Skin & Hair

Your skin and hair are actually a strong indicator of several different problems in your home, and water quality is one of them. Does it seem like you are constantly buying bottle after bottle of lotion to make up for dry skin? Does your hair feel stiff, brittle, or unhealthy? Does it still feel dirty even after freshly washing it? Your problem could very well be the water you are washing it with.

Hard water is known for causing dry skin and hair, as it draws important oils and moisture away. Likewise, hard water also prevents these important features from being able to replenish their moisture, creating dreaded dryness issues. While dry skin or hair isn’t all that uncommon of an issue for many people, few realize that the source of their issue is actually the water they are using for bathing and sanitation each and every day. A water softening system does a lot to help solve these issues.

Faded, Stiff, or Rough Clothes

Water quality has a huge impact on the quality of your laundry cycles. Water that is too hard, too acidic, too alkaline, or contaminated with certain substances will dramatically diminish the quality and integrity of your clothing. That soft cotton shirt you love? Hard water and certain substances can make it feel harsh, prickly, and uncomfortable. In fact, water contaminants are typically why you would need to use fabric softener. With pure, filtered water, your clothes will come out cleaner, softer, in better condition, and you won’t even need to use fabric softener to achieve results.

Floating Debris in Water

Pour yourself some water in a clear glass and keep an eye on the water as it settles. Do you notice small bits of debris floating in the water itself? While this could be soap residue inside the glass, in many cases it’s a sign of debris dissolved in your water. Sometimes these are bits of mineral content floating around, while other times the problem could be one of any number of other substances. A water purification system can solve this problem by filtering out many of these inclusions, including the ones you can’t necessarily see as particles floating in your water.