You’ve heard the term “Hard Water” before, especially in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. But what is hard water exactly? The more important question to ask is, if you do have it, how is it effecting your home and your health? “Hard Water” refers to all the extra stuff in water that is not two-parts hydrogen and one-part oxygen (h20). All that extra stuff is minerals like iron, calcium, manganese and magnesium. All those minerals aren’t necessarily bad for you, some sediments in hard water can also have bacteria. Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, and, Cooling explains what it is, how it effects your plumbing and what you can do to fix it! Here are a few signs to identify a hard water problem.
1. Your Water Tastes or Smells Funny.A funky taste is one of your first clues that you may have some bacterial contaminant in your water. Around Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and surrounding areas, those with hard water describe their water as having a “dirt” flavor
. 2. Water Spots.This is a big one for people to notice immediately. When the water evaporates it will leave behind a calcium deposit. So, you’ll notice the soap scum and your dishes will always be spotty. Spotty dishes could be a dishwasher problem, but it’s most likely your water.
3. Your pipes are getting clogged.If you’ve noticed that your shower head has been getting clogged and has weaker water pressure, there’s a good chance that the rest of your pipes are clogged as well. This can cause terrible plumbing problems. Older, steel pipes are more at risk than newer PVC pipes, but if you’ve got clogged pipes, you’ll want to get an expert from Affordable Service over to check on them right away.
4. Your laundry.You may not have thought about this right away, but hard water can have a negative effect on your laundry! It’s all about that rocky mineral deposits getting in life’s way! If you wash your clothes in hard water, they can wear out faster. Towels can come out scratchy feeling and rough. It’s often advised that people with hard water use four times as much detergent! This same kind of thing can happen to your other appliances as well. From your dishwasher to your hot water heater, it’s estimated that hard water expenses could be costing your $800 or more every year!
Now that you know the issues, what’s the best way to address them? Well, a water conditioner (aka a water softener) would help remove things like calcium, magnesium and iron from your water. This is one investment that would help pay for itself! If your piping is clogged as a result of sediment buildup or you’re in the market for a water softener, Affordable Service can help! We’ll send out a team of our experienced plumbers to assess the situation and replace piping where needed. Contact Affordable Service today! We service Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and the surrounding areas!
