Homes in North Fort Myers, FL, have hard water, which is water with high magnesium and calcium levels. While hard water isn’t harmful to your health, it poses plumbing, maintenance, and household cleaning challenges. Here are four typical problems that you might experience due to hard water buildup in your home.
1. Dry Skin and Hair
Showering with hard water can leave your skin feeling dry because of the elevated levels of magnesium and calcium. The excess minerals in hard water also make your hair feel slimy after taking a shower because the water cannot nourish your hair or skin. The best solution is to invest in a water softener to eliminate the excess minerals in hard water.
2. Shorten Water Heater’s Lifespan
Water heaters can last up to 10 years, but hard water tends to shorten its lifespan. Limescale forms on the heating element of water heaters over time, reducing the appliance’s ability to heat water. Mineral deposits from hard water also settle at the bottom of a water heater tank, reducing the amount of hot water available for use in your home.
3. Fading Laundry
Minerals present in water, such as calcium and iron, can compromise the effectiveness of the chemicals in laundry detergents. You’re likely to notice discoloration or fading clothes if you use hard water for laundry. Hard water also makes the fabric feel scratchy or stiff and you might see small rusty or chalky stains, so it’s best to install a water softener system.
4. Frequent Plumbing Repairs
Hard water can easily damage steel pipes due to the mineral buildup, affecting your water flow. The damage can also cause plumbing issues like corrosion, so you have to call a plumber frequently for drain cleaning and repairs. A water softener can resolve this issue.
Your home has hard water if you experience any of these issues. Hard water tampers with the efficiency of your plumbing system and appliances. Call Lee County Plumbing & Well Service today to install a home water softener if you have hard water issues.
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