3 Signs Your Home Has Water Hardness Issues

What is considered as hard water?

Water hardness isn’t bad for your health, but having high levels of calcium and magnesium present in your water can make it difficult to wash clothes properly and to get soap residue off your hands when washing them.

The hardness of water is determined by the amount of calcium carbonate or magnesium present in the water. General guidelines for water hardness classification are shown in the water hardness scale below:

• Soft – 0 to 60 mg/L (milligrams per liter)
• Moderately hard – 61 to 120 mg/L
• Hard –  121 to 180 mg/L as hard
• Very hard – over 180 mg/L

The higher your water tests on the hardness scale the more you will notice signs around the house of this annoying side effect of having well water.  Although, it can be irritating, there are solutions.

Common signs your home may have hard water and what you can do to improve the situation:

1. Your hair feels dull after a shower. When your home has water hardness problems, the minerals can make it difficult to thoroughly rinse shampoo and conditioner from your hair. When these products are thoroughly rinsed out, the residue they leave behind can leave your hair feeling dull, unclean, or limp.
2. Your clothes don’t wash completely. If your clothes aren’t washing completely and seem grimy or dull, it could be a sign that you have hard water. This is because the minerals in hard water make it difficult to wash the soapy residue from your clothes. As a result, your clothing doesn’t rinse as effectively and your laundry won’t get as clean. Water softening services can help to get your hard water under control.
3. Your skin feels itchy or dry. When soap doesn’t completely wash off your skin because of hard water, it can leave behind a soapy residue that can irritate and dry your skin. Those with eczema and other sensitive skin conditions may find themselves experiencing greater flare-ups. Water softening services can help to get your hard water back to normal so you can wash your skin with confidence.

Still not sure if your home has hard water?

If you’re not sure whether your home has hard water, you’re not alone. Many Americans have hard water in their homes but may not notice until they have professional water testing done. Fortunately, JB Water Well offers water testing and water softening services for when you need it most. To learn more about our water softening services or to schedule water testing, contact JB Water Well today.