Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Mission Viejo. Unfortunately, it can do significant harm to your plumbing if left untreated.

Understanding the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your home plumbing In this blog, the experts at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning will define 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 Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?

How do we define hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are safe for consumption but can harm your plumbing.

On the other hand, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs There is Hard Water in Your Home

There are several signs you may have hard water in your home:

  • 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 notice any of these signs, call 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning for a professional water quality assessment. Our knowledgeable staff will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we know exactly how hard your water is and how to fix it.

Frequent Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

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

Limescale in plumbing narrows the interior of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or damage.

Here are examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause in your plumbing:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup within plumbing lines can create rough surfaces. This speeds up corrosion and increases the likelihood of small leaks. This is most likely in older metal plumbing.

Damage to Home Appliances

Mineral limescale buildup in your water heater can lead to big problems. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to wear out faster.

Lower Water Pressure

As limescale increases inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as weaker shower streams or tubs requiring more time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is stubborn soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Formed when water evaporates and leaves minerals behind. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have a reddish tint if your water is high in iron.

Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning provides complete hard water solutions in Mission Viejo. We fix hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore performance and flow.

Our plumbing services also protect your home from future hard water problems with water softener installation. We also can work with you to find the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. Filtration systems and water softeners limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage in your plumbing! Contact a local plumber from 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning by calling 949-762-8644 today!