Hard water is a frequent issue faced by homeowners in and around Menomonie. Unfortunately, it can do significant harm to your plumbing 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 Halverson Brothers Inc 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?

So, what exactly is hard water? It’s water that has elevated amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

On the other hand, soft water has those minerals filtered out. 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:

  • Chalky buildup on fixtures
  • Lower water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up well
  • Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher

If you experienced any of these issues, call Halverson Brothers Inc for professional testing. We will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness and how to fix it.

Frequently Reported Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why is it important to know if you are dealing with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to stick to the inside of your pipes, which forms something called limescale.

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

Here are examples of the issues that hard water limescale deposits can cause in your home’s pipes:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create rough 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 washing machine or boiler can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to strain to operate by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to break down sooner.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale increases inside pipes, it restricts water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as reduced spray strength or tubs taking longer to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is unsightly soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Develops when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to produce insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t dissolve.
  • Hard water stains: Formed when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral residue. It can appear as mineral rings on fixtures, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even discolor the glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have red or brown hues if your water is high in iron.

Find Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Halverson Brothers Inc

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Halverson Brothers Inc provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Menomonie. We repair existing hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore performance and flow.

Our plumbing services also prevent new hard water damage from happening by installing a water softener. We also can help you find the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. These systems limit mineral buildup in pipes, providing water that’s gentle on plumbing and appliances.

Stop hard water damage in its tracks! Contact a local plumber from Halverson Brothers Inc by calling 715-578-8046 today!