How, and Where, Hard Water Impacts Your Home

With hard water found in about 85% of Irish homes, you’re bound to have experienced the signs of it around your home. The high mineral content of hard water—specifically, high concentrations of calcium and magnesium—is what’s to blame for these problems. As water evaporates, these minerals harden themselves onto items as mineral deposits, also known as scale. The more scale present, the more problems that exist.

Here are some of the most common problems you may experience around your home due to hard water:

• Around the home
  • Crusty, white scale build-up on taps, showerheads and water-using appliances
  • Dishwasher that no longer cleans dishes well
  • Reduced water flow due to clogged pipes
  • Hard-to-clean film and scale on bath and kitchen fixtures, shower walls and toilets
  • Spotty, filmy glasses and dishes—even after washing
  • Soap that refuses to lather no matter how much you use
  • Grey, dingy clothing
  • Towels that feel hard and scratchy after washing

• Financial hits over time
  • Higher utility bill costs, Hard water requires up to 29% more energy to heat your water over the life of a water heater
  • Decreased efficiency of major water-using appliances, including appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines
  • A 30% to 50% decrease in the lifespan of major appliances
  • Increased purchases of items such as laundry detergent, bath and kitchen soaps, lotions and household cleaners

• Personal well-being
  • “Squeaky” skin after washing
  • Excessively dry skin
  • Dull, limp hair
  • Razor burn
  • Hair colour that quickly fades

From the increased costs associated with hard water to the supplemental costs required to deal with it, the financial impact accumulates quickly. Trying to keep up with and manage the signs of hard water soon becomes cumbersome and tiring, leaving you exasperated. Instead of fighting the problem alone, a water softener can do the heavy lifting for you. The softener eliminates your hard water problem and distributes soft water throughout the home.