Hard water is a widespread issue facing homeowners in and around Pella. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.

Knowing the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your home plumbing In this blog, the experts at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating will explain 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 Between Hard Water and Soft Water?

So, what exactly is hard water? It’s water that has elevated amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not dangerous to drink but can harm your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs There is Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:

  • Whiteish mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures
  • Reduced water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up when you wash your hair
  • Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher

If you experienced any of these issues, call Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating for expert evaluation. 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 are dealing with 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 diameter of your pipes, which can reduce water pressure and even cause clogs or leaks.

Below are some examples of the issues that hard water limescale deposits can cause throughout your plumbing system:

Leaky Pipes

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create uneven surfaces. This accelerates corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is a greater concern in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your dishwasher can lead to big problems. It forces these appliances to work harder by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to break down sooner.

Low Water Pressure

As limescale accumulates inside pipes, it chokes off water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as less powerful showers or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Build-Up and Hard Water Stains

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

  • Soap scum: Develops when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to create insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t dissolve.
  • Hard water stains: Left behind when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral residue. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as visible residue in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on the glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have rust-colored staining if your water contains high levels of iron.

Learn How to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating

What can you do about hard water? From evaluation and testing to prevention, Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Pella. We repair hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore water flow.

Our plumbing services also protect your home from future hard water problems by setting up a water softening system. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Water softeners and filtration solutions help prevent limescale accumulation, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage in your plumbing! Contact a local plumber from Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating by calling 641-628-3621 today!