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The Hard Truth


June 17, 2017


The truth is that hard water is costing you more than it’s saving you. Read on to better understand the differences between hard and soft water.

What Is Hard Water?

Water is labeled as “hard” when hard minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, are dissolved in it. When water first falls from the sky as rain, it is considered soft water because it is free of hard minerals. As the water travels through soil, sand, and rock, minerals are added to the water, thus changing the water from soft to hard. Hard water is not typically harmful to our health, but it can create many problems for us and our homes.

Hard water is a problem because of its high concentration of calcium and magnesium ions. When these two minerals are heated, they remove themselves from water and form mineral deposits on household items, such as pipes, soaps, and dishes, which affects their performance. When you have hard water in your home, soaps and detergents lather poorly, so people tend to use more.  Hard water stains are left on dishes even after being thoroughly washed, and pipes are more likely to be clogged with a mineral build-up from hard water running through them.

Scale and mineral buildup around a faucet.

Problems Hard Water Can Create:

  • Minerals found in hard water clog pipes and reduce water flow.
  • Mineral deposits and film accumulate in kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Skin feels dry from the soap residue left behind.
  • Hair looks dull and feels limp from soap residue.
  • Mineral deposits (scale) shorten the life of your water heater.
  • Utility bills increase due to scale build-up in your water heater.
  • Glasses and dishes have white film or spots even after cleaning.
  • Clothes look dingy and gray from reduced sudsing.
  • The harsh minerals in the hard water shorten the lifespan of your clothes.
  • Hard water affects the taste of tea and coffee.

Wondering if your home has hard water? Check out how hard your water is with just your ZIP Code in our free tool.

See How Hard Your Water Is

What Can You Do About Your Water?

A water softener may be the solution you have been looking for if you are fed up with hard water. When a water softener is installed, the system removes hard minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, from your water. Soft water can leave your skin and hair feeling touchably soft and smooth. You will no longer have to spend hours cleaning and scrubbing those water spots away, which saves you time and money. Any worries you had about your pipes degrading due to scale and buildup will be gone.

With a soft water system in place your whole family will enjoy softer, less itchy skin from day one. The water softener systems from Superior will remove the harsh minerals from your water making your life easier and softer. Contact us today (801) 312-8143 for a no-obligation, free home water evaluation.

Want to learn more about soft water? Find out what a water softener can do for you.