Is your water hard? If so, you may not realize the impact it can have on the quality of your water-using appliances. From clogged pipes to cloudy dishes and scummy sinks, hard water can cause all sorts of unsightly and costly issues in your home. Let’s discuss hard water and how it can affect different water-using appliances in your home. 

How Common is Hard Water?

It’s not unlikely that your home may suffer from hard water issues. Missouri, and the surrounding states, are known for having water that is relatively hard, which means it contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water affects over 85% of the water supply in North America and can wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing and appliances. Hard water can cause higher electric and gas bills, due to mineral build-up on water heater heating coils and shortened life spans for water-using appliances due to mineral build-up on internal mechanisms. Let’s explore the specific ways hard water can impact your home’s appliances. 

Clogged Pipes and Appliances Caused by Hard Water

Firstly, hard water can clog pipes and appliances. Hard water, with its higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium salts, ends up forming scale that builds up over time inside your pipes. This scale buildup causes your pipes to become clogged and eventually stops water from flowing through them properly. In extreme cases of full blockage, your pipes could end up bursting, causing expensive repairs. The last thing your household needs is a burst pipe leaving you without water in your kitchen or bathroom. 

How Hard Water Affects Your Laundry Room

Hard water can have poor effects on your laundry and washing machine. 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. Hard water can also stain and discolor your laundry. 

Beyond the look and feel of your clothes, hard water can go deep to affect your washing machine. Sediment and minerals from your hard water can begin sticking to your washing machine mechanisms. This buildup can accumulate on your lint screen, washing tub, and pump mechanism, all leaving your machine vulnerable to breaking down. According to Angie’s List (now Angi), hard water could reduce your washing machine’s lifespan by up to three years.

The Damages of Hard Water on Your Dishwasher

Similar to your washing machine, hard water can cause soap scum and residue to build up in your dishwasher. This can lead to poor cleaning results for your machine and your dishes in addition to more frequent repairs to be made. You might also need to use more soap or a special cleaning product that’s made specifically for removing hard water buildup on dishwashers. Hard water can cause rust and corrosion to components in your dishwasher due to the mineral content in the water. When a metal is exposed to certain minerals for too long, it may eventually start to rust or corrode depending on the type of metal it is. 

Hard Water Problems in the Bathroom

Hard water can cause fogged shower doors and windows, as well as soap scum on sinks and tubs. While it might not seem as bad compared to the costly appliance maintenance, it can still end up costing your household more money on cleaning supplies to keep soap scum to a minimum. The minerals in hard water accumulate on glass and plastic surfaces, leaving behind a white film that’s difficult to remove. This build-up is called “soap scum” because it looks like what you’d find in your soap dish after using bar soap. 

Scale buildup on faucets and showerheads can also lead to a lack of water pressure. If the buildup becomes too difficult to clear you may need to purchase new faucets and heads, leaving you with a larger home improvement bill then expected. 

How Hard Water Impacts Your Morning Coffee

Hard water can also build up in your coffee maker, clogging the filter and causing it to overflow. The hard water also causes scale build-up on the heating element, which can lead to an increased risk of fire. It’s important to note that if you see any discoloration in your coffee or tea (such as brown spots), this can also be a sign of hard water damage. In addition to hard water, it can be important to know what other water contaminants might be making their way into your water. While newer models may come with filters made specifically for removing minerals from tap water, few filters can eliminate those contaminants better than a water filtration system from Culligan Water. 

Defeat Your Hard Water Issues with a Culligan Water Softener

If you have hard water, consider investing in a water softener system. Water softeners use ion exchange to soften the water of your home, easing the impact that hard water can cause on your water-using appliances. Water softening systems filter out the hard water minerals using resin beads. Hard water entering your home will flow through the water softener and the resin will filter out the hard minerals and remove them from the water. The softened water can then flow freely through your home’s pipes and appliances. 

If you’re ready to say goodbye to hard water spots and additional maintenance bills, contact your local water professionals at Culligan Water St. Joseph. Our professionals can not only test your water for its hardness but offer custom solutions to fit your household’s needs and budget.