Hard water is a widespread issue facing homeowners in and around Ellsworth. Unfortunately, it can cause serious damage if left untreated.

Knowing the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing, appliances and fixtures Below, the experts at Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC will explain what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Then, we’ll explain how we can protect your home.

What’s the Between Hard Water and Soft Water?

So, what exactly is hard water? It’s water that has elevated amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is doesn’tnot going to damage your plumbing system.

Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home

If you have hard water, you may see several warning signs:

  • A chalky, white residue on fixtures
  • Lower water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up when you wash your hair
  • Spots on glasses after washing in dishwasher

If you see any of these warning signs in your own home, call Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC for expert evaluation. Our knowledgeable staff will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness and how to fix it.

Common Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why is it important to know if you have hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to cling to the inside of your pipes, which eventually becomes something called limescale.

Limescale accumulation narrows the interior of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or leaks.

Below are some examples of the damage hard water limescale buildup can cause in your plumbing:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create uneven surfaces. This accelerates corrosion and creates a higher chance of small leaks. This is especially true in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your washing machine or boiler can lead to big problems. It forces these appliances to strain to operate by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.

Low Water Pressure

As limescale increases inside pipes, it chokes off water flow. You may notice signs of restricted water flow, such as weaker shower streams or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Build-Up and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is unsightly soap scum and hard water stains:

  • Soap scum: Forms when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t dissolve.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and leaves minerals behind. It can appear as chalky buildup near faucets, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even discolor the glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have rust-colored staining if your water is also high in iron.

Easy, Afforable Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC provides complete hard water solutions in Ellsworth. We fix hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore flow and efficiency.

Our plumbing services also prevent new hard water damage from happening with water softener installation. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. Water softeners and filtration solutions help prevent limescale accumulation, providing soft, mineral-free water.

Stop hard water damage now! Contact a local plumber from Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC by calling 715-603-4483 today!