For both new homeowners and longtime homeowners, the thought of their water quality or spending money to change their water quality is not very front of mind. For most homeowners, if the water is coming out of the faucet and isn’t brown, then that’s good enough. Unfortunately, when it comes to poor water quality, there’s more to it than what meets the eye. From health considerations to costly plumbing repair bills, the hidden cost of poor water quality is something worth exploring. In this article, we’re investigating the real cost of poor water quality and how quality water in your home can make a difference.

Why Does Water Quality Matter

Whether you use most of your household’s water for drinking, cleaning, or water-using appliances, your water quality does matter. When you use pure, filtered water for drinking you can taste the difference. When you use filtered water for your dishwashing, you can spot the difference. And when you use quality, contaminant-free water in your water-using appliances your machines and pipes can tell the difference. Quality water can mean a lot of different things to different people. For municipal water plants quality water may mean water treated with fluoride or chlorine for cleanliness, whereas the Environmental Working Group by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources – Public Drinking Water Program will have a completely different standard of quality for water to meet. While you can’t control the water standards or the municipal water plants, you can control your own standards when it comes to water entering your home. The first step is knowing what contaminants may currently exist in your water. For St. Joseph, Missouri, trace amounts of chloroform, chromium, and other contaminants are common water contaminants in the area. To be absolutely sure your water is or isn’t affected by these contaminants, a water quality test is suggested. Different water monitors and test strips at your local hardware store can test for some contaminants and your pH level but Culligan Water of St. Joe offers a free water test and consultation that provides a complete analysis of your city or rural water, fixtures, plumbing, and water-using appliances. Not all of the effects of poor water quality are visible, so a water analysis can help fill in the unknowns. 

How Does Poor Water Quality Affect My Was-Using Appliances?

For many residents in North America, hard water can wreak havoc on a person’s plumbing and their water-using appliances. When we say water-using appliances, we refer to machines like your dishwasher and washing machine. These machines cannot run without a water hookup. If your home is affected by hard water, then these appliances are also being affected by hard water. Hard water holds higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium salts, which can end up forming scale that builds up over time inside your pipes. In some cases, this buildup can end up blocking pipes leading to expensive bursts and leaks. These higher concentrations of minerals can also cause rust and corrosion to components in your appliances, leading to costly repairs on your expensive, much-needed appliances. 

Poor water quality can even affect the items within your water-using appliances like dishes and clothes. Hard water in the dishwasher can leave streaks and spots on your dishware. When it comes to your laundry, The minerals in hard water can build up on clothes and make your detergent work inefficiently, which can cause them to be stiff, scratchy, and faded. Additionally, hard water has the potential to stain and discolor your laundry. 

Eliminate Poor Water Quality in Your Home with Culligan Water

As discussed above, poor water quality can end up costing you a lot more than you may think. Th best way to rid your home of poor water quality is with the help of Culligan Water of St. Joseph. Our water professionals are backed with over 85 years of industry experience. Culligan Water is at the forefront of water filtration methods and works endlessly to provide residents with clean, quality water for every part of the house. 

When it comes to hard water, a high-efficiency water softener or a whole home water system is an excellent choice for removing contaminants and harsh minerals from your water, providing your faucets and water-using appliances with soft water to get the job done. If you’re more interested in refreshing, clean-tasting drinking water, a Culligan reverse osmosis system can fit neatly under your kitchen cabinet providing your kitchen with an endless supply of drinking water free from 99% of contaminants and impurities. 

All homeowners can take advantage of Culligan Water of St. Joe’s free in-home water quality test to find out their water quality and potential issues. If you have questions about water quality or want to schedule your free water assessment, contact Culligan Water today.