Hard water is a widespread issue facing homeowners in and around Edmond. Unfortunately, it can cause serious damage if left untreated.

Knowing the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing, appliances and fixtures In this blog, the experts at Prudhom Mechanical will explain 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?

What 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.

On the other hand, soft water has those minerals removed. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs You Have 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 well
  • Spots on glasses after washing in dishwasher

If you notice any of these signs, call Prudhom Mechanical for expert evaluation. Our team 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 is it important to know if you have hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to stick to the inside of your pipes, which eventually becomes something called limescale.

Limescale accumulation narrows the interior of your pipes, which can restrict water flow and even cause clogs or leaks.

The following are examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause in your home’s pipes:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup along the inside of pipes can create rough surfaces. This accelerates corrosion and creates a higher chance of small leaks. This is especially true in older metal plumbing.

Appliance Damage

Mineral limescale buildup in your water heater can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to break down sooner.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale builds up inside pipes, it limits 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 Build-Up and Hard Water Stains

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

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This cloudy residue doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even discolor your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have red or brown hues if your water is also high in iron.

Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Prudhom Mechanical

What can you do about hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Prudhom Mechanical provides complete hard water solutions in Edmond. We repair existing 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 with water softener installation. We also can assist you by finding the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Filtration systems and water softeners limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage now! Contact a local plumber from Prudhom Mechanical by calling 405-294-4618 today!