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

Understanding the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing, appliances and fixtures Below, the experts at PS Cool Heat will define what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Most importantly, you’ll learn what we can do to protect your home.

What’s the Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?

How do we define hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are not dangerous to drink but can damage your plumbing.

Soft water, by contrast has those minerals filtered out. Unlike hard water, soft water is doesn’tnot going to damage your plumbing system.

Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

If you have hard water, you may see several warning signs:

  • Whiteish mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures
  • Lower 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 see any of these warning signs in your own home, call PS Cool Heat for professional testing. Our knowledgeable staff will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we have a clear understanding of your water quality and how to fix it.

Frequent Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why does it matter if you have hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to attach to the inside of your pipes, which eventually becomes something called limescale.

Limescale in plumbing narrows the interior of your pipes, which can reduce water pressure and even cause clogs or breaks.

Here are examples of the issues that hard water limescale deposits can cause in your plumbing:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup along the inside of pipes can create uneven surfaces. This speeds up corrosion and increases the likelihood of small leaks. This is a greater concern in older metal plumbing.

Damage to Your Appliances

Mineral limescale buildup in your dishwasher can result in costly damage. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.

Lower Water Pressure

As limescale builds up inside pipes, it chokes off water flow. You may notice signs of low water pressure, such as weaker shower streams or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is noticeable soap scum and hard water stains:

  • Soap scum: Forms when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This grimy buildup doesn’t dissolve.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral residue. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have a reddish tint if your water is also high in iron.

Learn How to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with PS Cool Heat

How do you get rid of hard water? From evaluation and testing to prevention, PS Cool Heat provides complete hard water solutions in Highlands Ranch. We repair hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove build-up and flushing appliances to restore flow and efficiency.

Our plumbing services also stop additional hard water issues before they start by installing a water softener. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Filtration systems and water softeners help prevent limescale accumulation, providing clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage in its tracks! Contact a local plumber from PS Cool Heat by calling 720-613-2210 today!