A And T Well Pumps Raleigh

6 Signs You Have Hard Well Water

Hard well water is a common problem that affects a lot of households in the Raleigh area and is an annoying nuisance that can lead to unexpected costs and expenses. To understand more about this issue, we're sharing what it means to have hard water, signs you have it, and how you can remedy the situation.

What Is Hard Water?

Before we go into the signs, it's important to know what hard water actually is. Hard water is simply water that has a very high mineral content, usually calcium and magnesium. As water filters through layers of rock, minerals are dissolved and infused into the water. Then, that mineral-infused water is pumped into your home.  It won't hurt you to drink it, but it does come with a variety of unpleasant problems.

Signs of Hard Water

To determine if you have hard water, look for these common signs around your home:

Slow Water Flow

If you have poor water pressure or your pipes are often clogged, that's a clear indicator of hard water. The minerals in the water can create a lime scale build-up in your pipes and around your fixtures, choking off your water flow. It's especially noticeable from your shower head where the holes are small and more easily clogged with a build up of mineral residue, but it can affect any faucet or plumbing fixture. In some more severe cases, you may even see an unattractive scaly buildup around the opening of your faucets.

Soap Scum Residue

Hard water reacts with soap and detergent, leaving a filmy white soap scum residue. This most commonly builds up in your shower, but you may also notice it in your dishwasher, sinks, and washing machines. While you can scrub away soap scum, that's a temporary fix that will continue to occur.

Dull, Scratchy Clothing

Have you noticed your towels feel scratchy or your jeans feel stiff? Just like how hard water leaves soap residue on your shower and inside your washing machine, it also leaves residue on your clothes. Hard water is unable to fully rinse off detergent, leaving laundry detergent to build up, making them feel stiff and scratchy. Over time, your clothes will look dingy, may take on a musty odor, and even wear out faster, costing you hundreds of dollars a year!

Dry Skin and Hair

Having hard water can be hard on skin and hair, especially the sensitive skin of babies and children. This is actually a two-fold problem. First, the water itself is leaving harsh mineral residue on your skin and hair, drawing out natural moisture. Second, soap, body wash, or shampoo isn't being fully rinsed away, leaving behind a residue that can irritate your skin and make your hair dry and dull. Studies show that hard water can even trigger eczema or dermatitis, especially in children.

Spots on Dishes

When you take your dishes out of the dishwasher or put them away after hand-washing, do they have white or gray-looking spots on them? Just like the layer of soap scum in your shower, the minerals react with the dish detergent and unattractive spots on your glasses, dishes, and utensils.

Replacing Your Appliances

One of the biggest costs of having hard water is the toll it takes on your appliances. The life span of your washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker on your refrigerator, and hot water heater can all be drastically reduced due to the mineral build up inside the elements. If your appliances are not working properly or they are wearing out faster, high levels of minerals are most likely to blame.

Solutions for Hard Well Water

If you do have hard well water, you don't have to suffer with itchy skin, broken appliances and filmy bathtubs. There are two common solutions you can choose from:

Water Softeners

You can have a water softener installed, which runs your water through a tank of water softening salt. The magnesium and calcium ions bond to the resin in the softener and are replaced with sodium. While it effectively softens your water, it does add sodium, which can cause health concerns and raise blood pressure. Using a water softener can also be inconvenient, as you have to replenish the salt, dispose of old brine carefully, and maintain your system. Additionally, softened water can't be used to water plants or grass.

Well Water Filtration Systems

Using a well water filtration system for your Raleigh home not only eliminates the minerals that cause hard water, you can also feel confident that other contaminants are safely filtered from your water. Unpleasant odors, tastes, or cloudiness can all be removed, leaving you with safe, clean water the whole family can enjoy! Cook, bathe, garden, and drink with confidence knowing that filtered water is a safer solution to hard water.

Contact Us for Well Water Filtration in Raleigh

To learn more about getting a water filtration system for your home, contact A&T Well and Pump today! Our experienced team can answer questions, address concerns, and provide you with a quote as well as test your well water to see if there are other concerns you should know about. Call us today at 919-291-4063 or fill out the form below to get started!

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