There are two types of water: soft and hard. Water that runs over limestone becomes soft, but this is only available in certain parts of the world. You will most likely have hard water, and you need to know how it affects you and what you can do to remove the side effects.
Spotting Hard Water
You'll know if you have hard water in a number of ways. The first is your location, mainly if your water source cannot run over limestone. Another way is by looking at your hot drinks. If you see white/yellow bits floating, there are chances that your water is hard.
A third way is by using washing up liquid. Place some in a bottle that is filled halfway and shake. If soapy suds appear, then your water is soft. If you struggle to get any, then your water is hard.
Problems of Having Hard Water
So, how do this type of water affect you? One of those is through limescale appearing in all your appliances. It will appear in the kettle, along your pipes and even in your boiler. You may also see a film appear around your sink or bathtub. The buildup can lead to clogged pipes and high energy bills.
Another complaint people have is that their dishes don't always seem clean. Others say that it affects the taste of their drinks, while some find their clothes don't last as long as they should.
What Can You Do to Prevent the Problems?
Is there any way that you can stop the side effects of hard water? There is the option of a water softener, which is an extra unit in your home. This does have a cost involved, so may not be the best option for your needs. If you're renting, you'll also be limited to the options available.
When it comes to the film on your sink or on glasses, you can always use a white vinegar rinsing agent to get rid of it. The ingredient will help to keep everything clean. Distilled vinegar can also be used in dishwashers or washing machines. You'll also need to use a drain unblocker to clear the buildup in the pipes.
Hard water doesn't mean you'll never have a cup of coffee that tastes great or you're doomed to your glasses constantly having a stain. It just means taking some extra steps to help soften it or deal with the side effects until you can get a softener unit installed. Contact a company like Hillside Plumbing and Heating for more information.
Share3 May 2016
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.