The minerals accumulate within the pipes and reduce their efficiency and longevity
I didn’t fully understand the drawback of hard water until my husband and I bought a home with a water well on the property. Up to that point, we’d always had access to city water. We had no idea the water at the new home was so overrun with minerals. The water has an unpleasant odor that reminds me of rotten eggs and even an odd orange-like color. It is a problem for everything it touches. The calcium, lime and rust corrodes the tank of the water heater, shortening its lifespan. Conventional tank-style water heaters are supposed to last anywhere from ten to fifteen years before showing signs of age. We typically need to replace the water heater every five to eight years. It’s not unusual for the tank to rupture from excessive corrosion and flood the basement. I have lots of extra cleaning requirements due to the hardness of the water. Hard water hinders the foaming action of soaps and shampoos, stains tubs, sinks and toilets and destroys the finishes on faucets. For a while, I constantly cleaned the aerators on the faucet because of restricted water pressure. I eventually made it easier on myself by removing the aerators entirely. My washing machine is in frequent need of repairs and never lasts as long as it should. The linens, bedding and light colored clothing quickly become stained due to the hard water. I no longer bother trying to use a dishwasher. The dishes and glasses came out looking worse than when I loaded them in. There are also issues with the water lines and drains. The minerals accumulate within the pipes and reduce their efficiency and longevity. We’ve tried several different types of water filtration systems without success. The water is so extremely hard that these systems can’t handle the demand.
plumbing repair