Even moderately hard water can be bad for your pipes. It can leave behind layers of buildup that narrow the pipes, clog fixtures, and seize the moving parts on your valves and handles. Routine hard water treatments can help prevent this damage by neutralizing or filtering out the hard water contaminants before they reach you. See how activated carbon water filters, reverse osmosis filters, or water softeners can treat your home’s water.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is water with a greater concentration of minerals than “soft” water. Calcium and magnesium deposits in the water are not considered a health hazard—in fact, they can contribute vital minerals as part of your daily intake. However, these minerals can leave behind trace deposits that build up over time. If your faucets develop a layer of white, rough material that’s tough to scrub off, you likely have hard water. Hard water got its name not because it’s texturally different than soft water, but the minerals can make it “hard” to generate a sudsy lather with soap.
Cleveland, Ohio, has average water hardness, with around 7 grains per gallon as of 2022. The typical mineral found in Cleveland water is calcium carbonate.
Indicators of Hard Water
Not sure if your home has harder-than-average water? While you can conduct a water composition test, there are several visual indications you can use to determine if your home has hard water—and if it’s a problem you prefer to treat. These indicators of hard water include:
- Chalky deposits around showerheads and sink faucets
- Mineral buildups that clog dishwasher arms or other appliances
- Buildup of soap scum
- Dry skin and hair
- Faded or stiff laundry
- Cloudy glassware
Water Quality in Cleveland, OH
The City of Cleveland releases water quality reports every year. You can use these reports to see how Cleveland water meets or exceeds US EPA drinking water standards, as well as the more stringent Ohio EPA standards. Cleveland Water also takes part in the Partnership for Safe Water to maintain standards above state or national minimums. While Cleveland water may be safe to drink, addressing hard water can make your water taste better and more pleasant to use.
The Effects of Hard Water
Not sure how hard water treatment can improve your home’s pipes and water quality? Consider these common hard water problems:
- Scale buildup inside pipes can lead to more frequent clogs or plumbing problems
- Mineral deposits that are hard to remove
- Poor lathering or sudsing, leaving excessive residue on dishes and clothing
- More frequent breakdowns of appliances like water heaters and washing machines
How Hard Water Treatment Works
Water filtration and treatment solutions can resolve these hard water issues. For example, water softeners use ion exchange—the hard water flows through a tank of resin beads with sodium ions that attract the magnesium and calcium ions, leaving behind water that is gentler and creates far fewer deposits. Some water filtration solutions also use membranes or ions to separate hard water minerals from the water. Depending on your needs, you might install localized water filters at your sinks or put a water filter at your home’s main inlet to treat all of the water.
Our Water Treatment Options
At 1-800-Plumber +Air in Cleveland, we offer comprehensive hard water treatment services. Our plumbers can test your water and assess the severity of your home’s hard water. Three water treatment solutions we offer are:
- Water softeners that remove magnesium and calcium ions
- Reverse osmosis filters that allow the water to pass through a semi-permeable membrane, catching a wide range of potential contaminants
- Activated carbon water filters that can remove chemical contaminants like VOCs, chlorine byproducts like THMs, and traces of pesticides or herbicides
Call 1-800-Plumber +Air Today
Concerned about the quality of your home’s water? Contact 1-800-Plumber +Air today for professional assistance evaluating your water and installing long-term solutions. Our Cleveland-area experts are standing by to help.
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