How to Tell if You Have Hard Water – Signs of Hard Water

What is Hard Water?

The presence of excessive minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water is known as hard water. Any water that is rich in mineral content will be called hard water. However, the water hardness levels are different in cities or areas. If you want to check the hardness level of the water in your house, you can buy a simple water test kit that will measure the water hardness in grains.

If you have recently moved to a new place and feel that something is not right, especially tap water. It might be due to hard water as it can be a real hassle for anyone. Moreover, hard water often causes many issues for those unfamiliar with it because it can negatively affect the quality of life. However, you don’t need to worry about it because nearly 90 percent of the homes in the US have hard water.

If you are experiencing any problem, it’s crucial to know its signs first to find any appropriate solution for it. This article will discuss some of the most common symptoms of hard water that surely need your attention. Remember, hard water isn’t only bad; there are also some benefits of hard water that we will discuss later on.

Signs of Hard Water You Should Know

These are the most common signs of hard water that you might have noticed in your home. Remember, we have only discussed the most common signs here.

Brown or Red Stains

Have you noticed the annoying brown or reddish stains on the porcelain recently? It’s one of the most common signs of hard water in the toilet. Well, it’s a considerable embarrassment that needs to be fixed for sure. These stains are due to iron; the excessive amount of iron on the water causes rust in the pipes, resulting in brown and reddish stains. If you are worried about these types of stains, then you must do something for hard water.

Changed Water Smell or Taste

A strange or changed smell/taste in the water often indicates something wrong with the water. Remember, an excessive amount of minerals such as calcium and magnesium cause an unpleasant metallic taste in the water. Moreover, you may also notice a strange smell in the water, and it’s due to the reaction between bacteria and magnesium. To resolve this problem, you should first test the water hardness level and take steps accordingly.

Poor Showering Experience

We all know that taking a shower makes you feel relaxed and calm. However, have you ever noticed soap residue on the skin even after taking a long shower? Well, it’s due to hard water that prevents the soap from getting dissolved in the water completely. If you are dealing with this problem, it might be due to the hard water.

Clogged Pipes

If your house’s pipes and sanitary system get clogged frequently, then it could be due to hard water. Excessive minerals in the water cause rusting in the pipes that further clog everything. Moreover, due to this clogging, it can cost you hundreds of dollars yearly on plumbing fixes. The best solution will be to install any reliable water softener in the main water supply to prevent these issues.

Skin & Hair Related Issues

Signs of hard water on the skin are no longer hidden as there is a lot of information available on the internet. Hard water also causes some skin-related conditions such as dry skin, eczema, etc. Hard water removes the moisture on the skin layer and makes it dry. Remember, dry skin is a root cause of many skin conditions, including skin irritation. However, dry hair, hair loss, and hair damage & breakage are signs of hard water on hair.

Laundry Problems

If you feel that your clothes are not getting clean properly even after multiple washes, it might be due to hard water. Remember, the detergent doesn’t get dissolved in the hard water, which results in several laundry issues. Moreover, hard water can damage the clothes by making their surface rough.

Check Out: Get Rid of Hard Water Using Water Softener

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How can you tell if you have hard or soft water?

2. What to do if your home has hard water?

If your home has hard water after testing with a water testing kit, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer through itchy skin, lifeless hair, hazy glassware, buildups, and poor water pressure. You can fix this issue by buying a water softener system or water descaler or water conditioners. Right after installation, your home’s hard water will be softened. However, soft water solves skin and hair issues, buildups issues, and increases the lifespan of plumbing appliances.

3. Does vinegar soften water?

Vinegar contains small amounts of sodium, potassium, and chloride, these chemicals soften hard water to some extent by dissolving minerals. However, in laundry vinegar increase the cleanliness of the clothing and softens fabrics. It also acts as a rinse aid for spotless dishes.

4. Is hard water bad for your health?

There is not any specific issue in drinking hard water so far. However, some people claim issues of dry skin, hair fall, hair scums, dry hair, etc.

5. Does hard water taste bad?

Sometimes hard water has a different taste like chemicals like i.e. due to the presence of a high level of dissolved minerals(high hardness level).

Check Out: Water Testing Strips to Check Level of Hardness

Wrap Up

We hope this article has given you enough information on the common signs of hard water. We have tried our utmost to highlight the most common hard water signs that you might have experienced in your home. If you have to search for an appropriate solution to this problem, we recommend you purchase any typical water softener for your whole house water supply. A water softener will surely help you deal with these kinds of hard water-related problems. If you have any queries, don’t hesitate to comment below.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a United State Licensed Plumber with over 18 years of plumbing experience. Steve has conducted residential and commercial plumbing jobs throughout the state and currently works for one of  California’s largest plumbing companies. When he’s not working, Steve enjoys spending time with his daughter and son.