Is Hard Water Harmful?

We’ve talked before about hard water. You are probably pretty familiar with the way it shows up around your home: spotted glasses, showers with low pressure, and hair that never seems to get all the way clean. You’ve seen how to remove the stains from your counter top and windows with the right window washing supplies. You even got tips about softening the water in your home.

For some people, water softening systems are just too expensive. For those people, living with hard water is a fact of life. However, there seems to be a frightening idea that hard water can actually be harmful.

Basically, the answer depends on how you define harmful. Can it be harmful to your home? Yes. Can it be harmful to you? Not really.

Problems in the Home

Hard water contains calcium and magnesium. When the water evaporates away, the remaining deposits of the minerals are what causes damage to your home.

The mineral deposits can clog pipes, reduce water flow and interfere with the performance of appliances. Mineral deposits can even damage water heaters causing them to break down faster. These deposits also leave clothes looking dingy over time because the soap is not able to get as sudsy.

In the kitchen, hard water deposits stain counter tops and dishes. Deposits can also make your coffee and tea taste bitter.

In the bathroom, minerals in hard water makes your skin and hair feel drier. This is because the minerals interfere with the sudsing of your hygiene products. It also prevents the moisturizing agents from fully penetrating your skin and hair.

What can I do about it?

Purchasing a water softening system can definitely remedy these problems for you. If you decide to take this route, there are a few things you should think about. First, water softeners are expensive. Not just in the beginning with the initial purchase, but also because it will raise your electric bill. Because of the treatment process, you will also use more water and there will be more sodium in your water.

A water softener isn’t the only solution. You can also do any of the following:

• Use bottled water in food and drinks.
• Use laundry and dish washer detergent made for hard water appliances. There are similar hygiene products on the market as well.
• Flush your pipes and water heater often to prevent buildups.
• Clean coffee pots, shower heads and sink faucets with white vinegar to remove deposits.

Problems in the Body

At most, the minerals in hard water make your hair feel weighed down. It can seem as though your hair never feels completely clean.

Minerals in hard water are actually good for the body. The calcium carbonate in hard water can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis. You just need to be taking enough vitamin D to absorb the calcium. Studies have shown that the minerals can also help keep heart disease at bay.

Don’t let the idea of tackling the hard water issue in your home overwhelm you. Let the experts in window cleaning Las Vegas trusts keep your home and windows in proper working order. Contact J & J Window Wash at 702.274.8128 for more information about the window washing supplies sweeping the valley.

September 17, 2014