How To Fix Hard Water In Your Home

Learning how to fix hard water is a crucial step in maintaining the health of your home and family. The reality? Dealing with hard water can be an uphill battle for many homeowners. Let’s figure out if you have an issue with hard water in your home, and how exactly to fix it.

What Is Hard Water Anyway?

The term ‘hard water’ refers to water containing a high concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium - these are what we refer to as 'hard water minerals'. These elements find their way into water through natural processes, specifically when the water travels underground and interacts with rock formations.

Why Fixing Hard Water Matters

Hard water is known to leave a residue of its minerals – often referred to as scaling or buildup – on your clothes, appliances, dishes, and even your skin and hair. You may notice water stains, dingey clothing, or even dry and flaky skin – as the hard water minerals don’t just leave residue behind, but also strip away natural oils.

Many people often try to combat these issues by increasing the amount of soap and solvents they use in their everyday water routines. This results in increased waste, expenses, and unnecessary overexposure to the synthetics often present in household products. It may even feel necessary in many cases to run water and appliances more than is necessary to achieve the cleanliness desired, which also increases energy bills and water waste.

Hard water can also cause damage over time to pipes and other inner workings of your home plumbing system and appliances. Hardness often has a negative effect on the overall taste of your water as well.

How to Determine If You Have Hard Water

The presence of hard water in your home can be more apparent than you think. A clear indication is a noticeable drop in the pressure of your water, often resulting from scale accumulation within your plumbing. Along with the aforementioned telltale signs of course, such as water spots on dishes, stiff or dull clothing, or dry skin and hair.

If you want to be sure that hard water could be the culprit for some of the issues you notice in your home, test the hardness of your water with a test kit from your local home improvement store.

How To Fix Hard Water In Your Home

The main solution when exploring how to fix hard water is a water softener – the primary purpose of which is to remove those hardness-causing minerals like calcium and magnesium. Let’s explore your hard water treatment options and their benefits.

Advantages Of A Water Softener

• Prevent scale buildup to extend the lifespan of appliances and plumbing systems
• Prevent hard water stains on clothing, dishes, and more
• Reduce the amount of soap and detergent required in household chores that involve water
• Increased gentleness for skin and hair exposed to water, leaving them feeling smoother and less dry

For a more in-depth look at the benefits of treating hard water with a water softener, explore our article “9 Surprising Benefits of A Water Softener”.

There are also elements of using a water softener that some may see as a disadvantage such as:

• Some maintenance is required to refill salt and perform occasional cleanings
• Slightly higher sodium content, which may be a health concern for those with special diet needs regarding sodium

Traditional Water Softeners vs Salt Free Water Conditioners

There are two main types of hard water treatments – those that are traditionally salt-based, and those that are salt-free. The primary distinction between saltless water conditioners and regular water softeners lies in the method they each employ for treating hard water.

Traditional water softeners use an ion exchange process, where resin beads attract and trap the hard minerals, replacing them with sodium ions.

Salt-free water conditioners on the other hand do not remove the minerals from the water but rather transform their structure, rendering them unable to form scale or adhere to surfaces.

Learn more from our blog on how water softeners work, and what sets salt free water conditioners apart.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Water Softener

Water Hardness Level: Determine the hardness level of your water supply to choose the appropriate water softener system.

System Capacity: Consider the daily water usage in your household to select a system with adequate capacity.

Space and Installation: Assess the available space and installation requirements to ensure compatibility with your home.

Maintenance: Understand the maintenance needs of the system, including filter replacements or media regeneration.

Warranty and Support: Look for a reputable brand that offers a warranty and reliable customer support.

Small Steps To Prevent Hard Water Effects

If you’re wondering how to get rid of hard water intensity in your home even if a softening system isn't yet implemented, there are of course some preventative measures you can take.

Apart from setting up a treatment system, there's more you can do - like regularly cleaning fixtures. This simple act plays an instrumental role in protecting against mineral deposit accumulation over time. Remember: it's crucial to properly clean these deposits before they become permanent residents that cause permanent damage.

To protect your skin and hair, you may consider exploring showerhead filters, which are widely available online for an affordable price.

Though it may not make a huge difference, you may also want to consider choosing certain brands of household products like detergents or dishwasher soaps that are more heavy-duty so they will work more effectively in smaller amounts.

Why APEC Water Softeners Make All The Difference

As the #1 manufacturer of home water filters in the U.S., APEC offers a range of reliable and efficient water softener products. With our advanced technology and commitment to excellence, you can trust APEC to provide you with the best water-softening solutions for your home.

If you were wondering how to fix hard water in your home, and are now eager to get started, explore our variety of expert water-softening solutions today.