Sal’s Plumbing has proudly been the South Bay’s emergency plumber for over 40 years. We are experts at drain cleaning, leak detection, repipe & plumbing installations & gas line services.  As such we are often asked for expert plumbing tips.  One question we are often asked is:

What is difference between hard water and soft water?

Have you heard of water referred to as hard or soft? What does that mean and how does it affect your home? Different compositions of water affect your appliances, your body, and how the plumbing in your home functions.. In this article, we will break down what makes water hard or soft, how hard water can harm your home, and how you can handle your hard water issues.

Working with a professional plumber will ensure that you soften your water correctly and that your plumbing system is properly maintained and safe. S&B Plumbing helps with hard water and water softener installations for homeowners.

What Is In The Water In Coastal Homes?

We all know that water is made of molecules (Hydrogen and Oxygen) but the water you drink and use to wash your clothes has minerals in them. Calcium and Magnesium are the most common minerals found in water, and the content of each is counted to determine how soft or hard your water is.  Our South Bay being a coastal city has very hard water due to the proximity to the ocean.

Water picks up these minerals as it passes through geological formations like limestone and clay. The minerals can then build up and cause the water to be harder or softer depending on the mineral count. It is usually measured in parts per million. Soft water typically ranges from 0 to 3.5 PPM, while hard water ranges from 4 to 180 PPM.

Water chemistry runs along a spectrum and can change depending on where it is coming from, city to city, or if you have a water softener system in place. The hardness of your water can change depending on the year or how long you have been using a water softener.

The Effects Of Hard Water Around Your Home

Water with high mineral content can pose risks to your home, your health, and your personal items.  Hard water can affect the following areas:

• Clogged pipes
• Deposits on your faucets
• Damage to your appliances
• Itchy skin and scalp
• Lower water pressure
• Increased energy consumption
• Wear to your fabrics

Depending on the amount of minerals in your water, the damage or effects to these areas will vary. If you have extremely hard water, you may notice your appliances working harder or your fabrics starting to wear down faster. If you begin to notice any damages or effects that could be caused by hard water happening around your home, look into installing a water softener.

Do Hard Water And Soft Water Taste Different?

Hard water can have a more distinct taste because of the dissolved minerals. It can have a more chalky or mineral flavor than softer water. Minerals can also change the flavor and texture of certain beverages like coffee or tea.

Soft water typically has a smoother taste and almost no taste of minerals. Some people can not tell the difference between soft and hard water tastes. Some people like the taste of hard water over soft water. Consider what type of water is best for your drinking and cooking needs.

How Do You Treat Hard Water?

If the risks of hard water are not for you and the taste is unnerving to you, you can take steps to soften the minerals in your water. They may be able to even remove the minerals from the water altogether.

Ion exchange is a technology that uses physical and chemical processes to filter the water in your home through resin or zeolite. Positively charged sodium ions are used to pull the minerals of carbon and magnesium from your water.

Sal’s Plumbing can install water softening systems to help improve your hard water. Water softener systems need to be installed by an expert plumber in order for you to get your money’s worth. After improving your water quality, you will start to notice lower energy bills, cleaner clothes, and healthier skin and hair.

Water softeners also need to have regularly maintenance in order to work properly. Over time clogs and scum build-up can cause your water softener to struggle, so ensure that you have annual plumbing maintenance.

If you would like more information about water softening systems or you are in need of a local plumber,  please give us a call at (310) 692-4183, we are happy to stop by.  Chances are that we have a plumber in Redondo Beach or a plumber in Manhattan Beach or a plumber in Long Beach when you need us!

Thank You!

This blog post was written by eMaximize, a top plumber marketing agency in California.