Although hard water is very common in households throughout the United States, few are educated about hard water’s true effects on a home. Hard water is water that is made up of dissolved minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese. It is very prevalent in homes across the country and according to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 85% of the United States has hard water. Hard water can go undetected and may not be noticeable by taste or appearance. However, the chemical makeup of hard water will soon leave its impact on your laundry, your bathroom and your wallet.
One negative effect of hard water in your home is the damage that it can cause to your clothes. The minerals found in hard water will combine with your laundry soap and make an insoluble substance in your washing machine that results in a residue on your “clean” laundry. This may cause your white shirts to look yellow or your brilliant red dress to turn a faded pink color. Additionally, according to the Water Quality Association, harsh minerals found in hard water also interferes with soap’s alkalinity, therefore requiring a larger amount of laundry detergent to clean your clothes.
Secondly, hard water can lead to more cleaning for a less desired result. If you have scrubbed your shower glass door or bathroom tile without making progress towards removing soap scum, it may be due the hard water. Hard water will cause rust, soap scum and tough-to-remove buildup in your kitchen and bathroom.
Besides wearing out your clothes and making cleaning even more of a chore, hard water will also cost you significantly more money in the long run. Hard water causes lime scale build up and reduces the life of your appliances. In fact, with hard water, washing machines, dishwashers and even water heaters will wear out faster than homes that have soft water systems. The American Water Works Association stated that washing machines in homes with hard water typically wear out 30% faster than homes with soft water. This indicates that a washing machine will last 7 years in the home with hard water and 10 years in the home with soft water. Ultimately, this means that the longer you keep hard water in your home, the faster you will have to replace all of your appliances and the more money you will spend.
Now is the time where you should be asking yourself, “What can I do to get rid of my hard water?” The first thing you need to do is install a type of soft water system. Soft water will not only save you time, but also money. With a soft water system, the negative minerals like calcium and magnesium are swapped for sodium ions that reduce the hard minerals to an insignificant amount. This ion exchange process rids the water of its impurities and will ultimately keep your clothes cleaner, your dishes spotless and will prolong the life of your appliances.
Your Local Culligan Man is the number one source for soft water systems. Because they have over 75 years of experience, a satisfaction guarantee and the most advanced technology systems, Culligan is your solution to your hard water problem. According to Culligan, you will notice that you have less soap scum in your bathroom, cleaner and smoother skin and hair, cleaner clothes and appliances that are more efficient and last longer. Additionally, your pipes will have less buildup and your appliances will require less cleaning products, therefore saving you money again. Culligan’s Aqua Sensor technology is the smartest water softener choice as it is able to sensor how much salt needs to be added to your water in order to remove the hard mineral buildup. This is just one of Culligan’s many solutions to your hard water problem. Call your local Culligan man today and take the first step towards clean soft water in your home!