Hard water is a widespread issue facing homeowners in and around Mason City. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.

Understanding the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing system and appliances. Below, the pros at Mechanical Air Systems Co will explain what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Then, we’ll explain how we can protect your home.

What’s the Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?

What is hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are safe for consumption but can harm your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is safe for your plumbing.

Signs of Hard Water in Your Home

There are several signs you may have hard water in your home:

  • A chalky, white residue on 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 see any of these warning signs in your own home, call Mechanical Air Systems Co for a professional water quality assessment. Our team will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness and how to fix it.

Common 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 attach to the inside of your pipes, which forms something called limescale.

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

Below are some examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause throughout your plumbing system:

Plumbing Leaks

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create uneven surfaces. This increases the speed of corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is a greater concern 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 fail.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale builds up inside pipes, it chokes off water flow. You may notice signs of restricted water flow, such as less powerful showers or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

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

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This grimy buildup doesn’t wash off.
  • Hard water stains: Left behind when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as visible residue 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 Mechanical Air Systems Co

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Mechanical Air Systems Co provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Mason City. 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 prevent new hard water damage from happening by setting up a water softening system. We also can help you find the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Filtration systems and water softeners help prevent limescale accumulation, providing clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage in its tracks! Contact a local plumber from Mechanical Air Systems Co by calling 641-454-6572 today!