Does My Home Have Hard Water…And What Can I Do About It?

Hard water, characterized by elevated levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, is a common concern throughout the United States. Water sources across the nation, including surface and groundwater contribute to the prevalence of hard water.

The challenges posed by hard water are consistent nationwide. Mineral deposits on dishes and appliances, difficulty in lathering soap and shampoo, and the impact on skin and hair are shared issues. Addressing these problems involves utilizing water softeners or installing filtration systems, effectively removing minerals from the water. While hard water isn’t harmful to drink, its gradual effects on appliances and plumbing systems necessitate attention. It’s important for residents across the United States to recognize water hardness and take measures to counteract potential adverse effects.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nearly 90 percent of American households contend with hard water, characterized by an excess of calcium and magnesium minerals. This hardness can be taxing on appliances, pipes, and personal grooming routines.

Hard Water Nationwide: A Spectrum of Hardness

The hardness of water varies across the United States based on water sources and geographic regions. Overall, water quality falls within the spectrum of moderately hard to hard.

 According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your Home averages about 148 parts per million (ppm), which is considered hard — but measured in some areas up to 402 (extremely hard).

Confronting Hard Water Issues Across the Nation

The challenges associated with hard water are consistent across regions, with health implications being a significant concern. Skin irritation and dryness, a notable consequence, arise due to the minerals in hard water stripping natural oils, leading to discomfort.

Hair also bears the brunt of hard water, becoming dry and brittle, resulting in breakage and split ends. The difficulty in lathering soap and shampoo encourages bacterial buildup on the skin and scalp, contributing to conditions like acne and dandruff. Furthermore, hard water contributes to mineral deposits accumulating in pipes and appliances, reducing their efficiency and longevity. These cumulative health effects underscore the importance of taking preventive measures.

Addressing Hard Water Woes

Protecting against the repercussions of hard water requires proactive actions applicable across the country. The U.S. health departments provide educational resources for informed decision-making and risk reduction.

In conclusion, hard water’s challenges resonate nationwide, with solutions involving effective cleaning and preventive measures. By promoting awareness and informed action, individuals can collectively mitigate hard water’s impact on their health and well-being.

Hard Water Protection

There are proactive steps you can take to stop hard water buildup from affecting your home or your family. This includes keeping your surfaces around water clean and dry, and using spray cleaner on shower doors and mirrors regularly.

Home remedies can help temporarily. Most solutions involve white vinegar, which is a general household cleaning solution:

Chrome
Faucets
Wrap paper towels or rag soaked in vinegar around the faucet and let it sit for an hour. Rinse and wipe it dry.
Shower
Heads
Take off the shower head and soak it in white vinegar for 12 hours. Scrub with an old toothbrush, rinse and reinstall it.
Shower
Doors
Spray with white vinegar or white wine to remove lime scale and hard water stains.
DishwashersOnce a month, add a cup of white vinegar to your dishwasher and run it through a cycle.
Washing
Machines
Add a gallon of white vinegar to the empty washing machine and run through a cycle with hot water.
Toilet Tanks Add three cups of white vinegar to your toilet tank.
Coffee
Makers
Run a cycle unfiltered through the reservoir full of white vinegar to remove mineral deposits. Run two more full 12-cup brewing cycles with regular water.
Sinks and
Tubs
Spray the surface with lemon juice or vinegar, let sit for half hour. Wipe clean.

How To Fix Hard Water Spots On Fixtures and Appliances

Fixtures are the hardest places to deal with hard water spots, because often you can’t see the heart of the problem.

An easy way to deal with this, however, is to remove the fixtures (if you can) and soak them in a solution of vinegar or lemon juice. Even if it’s only a few hours, soaking fixtures helps dissolve hard water build up throughout, and can access hard-to-reach places where buildup can be causing the most issues.

If you can’t remove the fixtures, try filling a water-tight plastic bag with your vinegar or lemon solution and tying it to the fixture (rubber bands can be a great way to get this to hold.) Leave it on as long as you can, and you should find your fixtures running clearer than before.

A water softener provides numerous benefits that pay for itself over time.

Water softener benefits

Shower Head Water Filters For Renters & Non-Homeowner Types

In addition to reducing chemical exposure when you shower, shower head filters can also improve your hair’s shine and feel, as well as support healthier, softer skin by minimizing contact with chemicals and toxins. If you choose a water filter that softens water as well, you’ll also notice that you need less soap, shampoo, and conditioner to get the job done as soft water helps less product lather up quickly — saving you money with every shower.

Shower head filters can be useful even — and especially — if you live in a dorm, rental home, or apartment, or somewhere that already features whole home water filtration. Not all water filters are created equal, so unless you’ve done the research to know exactly what kind of water filter your water is passing through, it may not make much difference when it comes to your general health, hair or skin care routine.

Softeners and filtration systems need to be serviced regularly to be effective, so if your landlord or property manager isn’t on top of the recommended maintenance, a shower head filter can be a great choice to ensure your shower is not only safe, but easier on your hair and skin. An extra bonus? Your shower will also be easier to clean, since shower head filters make it less likely water will leave unsightly or hard-to-remove hard water spots and residue on the shower and fixtures.

Can Soft Water Cause Hair Loss?

The short answer is no. Many people may notice a change in their hair if they move from a location with hard water to a location with soft water, however this change is generally unrelated to the amount of hair you have (or whether it’s falling out)— rather it has to do with the quality of your hair. In general, other changes in your environment may cause hair loss. If you’re not eating a healthy diet, or recently experienced a stressful event like moving homes or starting a new job, the hair loss culprit is more likely that than your water quality.

How Does Hard Water Affect My Skin?

Soap scum isn’t just for your bathroom tiles – it can build up on your skin, too. The minerals in hard water leave a film around your epidermis that clogs your pores, trapping the natural oils and forming blemishes.

The natural oils in your skin work hard to lubricate and provide moisture. The film left around your skin clogs your pores, leaving your skin to feel dry and itchy.

Hard water may cause your skin to age faster. Dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross says many of the impurities in hard water can form free radicals that damage healthy skin cells. This can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. This can also lead to a breakdown of collagen, a structural protein that helps your skin look and feel healthy.

Why Culligan?

The School of Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University has found that the hard water scaling normally found in the pipes of homes is an active environment for harmful bacteria growth.

How Does Hard Water Cause Bacterial Growth?

The piping used in home plumbing, whether copper or PVC, does not allow the bacteria to settle and grow. But over time, scaling from the hard water provides a surface for bacteria to grow on, increasing the risk of pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella, which can cause Legionnaire’s Disease.

Lime scale will reduce the flow of water in your plumbing system by clogging pipes. This is particularly a big issue for older homes with steel pipes. Your water pressure can lower over time, possibly requiring a full pipe replacement.

Can Hard Water Contribute To Skin Problems and Eczema?

The chronic, itchy skin rash that affects 20 percent of babies and young children is painful for your child, and a pain for you to deal with. Furthermore, while eczema conditions are known to improve with age, there is no true cure, and its regression is unpredictable in nature.

There are many preventative measures that people practice to mitigate the effects of eczema, or the chances of your child contracting it. Most are related to clothing, detergents, bathing, topical creams, certain diets, and prescription medicine.

But what about the effects of hard water on your baby’s skin? From the bathtub to the laundry, the water used during these essential life events can have an adverse effect on your child.

High levels of hard water may be associated with atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Lead author of the study Carsten Flohr, Ph.D. of the Institute of Dermatology at King’s College London, noted the purpose was not to study the causes and effects of eczema, but rather an association of homes that have hard water and the prevalence of eczema within those homes.

“We are about to launch a feasibility trial to assess whether installing a water softener in homes of high-risk children around the time of birth may reduce the risk of eczema, and whether reducing chlorine levels brings any additional benefits.”

How Does Hard Water Affect Clothing?

Calcium and magnesium can do a number on your laundry. The fabrics can stiffen, and the color may dull if the dissolved minerals are not suspended in water when it is drained.

Many of your laundry detergent molecules are not being used properly, as they bind up the calcium and magnesium. This leaves less of these molecules available to trap dirt and grime.

How Does Hard Water Cause Soap Scum and Spots

Soap scum is the white film that comes from the addition to the fatty contents of soap to the mineral-rich ions of hard water. These are technically called “lime soaps.”

This type of soap is ineffective in washing dishes, clothes or hair. Because of this, more soap is required to form a lather, and more can stick to your hair and skin. Synthetic detergents are less likely to make this reaction.

What Types Of Water Softeners Are Available — And Which Would Be Best For Me?

Culligan offers a range of water softeners to meet different needs and preferences. It’s recommended to consult with a Culligan representative or a water treatment professional for a personalized recommendation.

That being said, here are some common types of Culligan water softeners:

  1. Culligan High-Efficiency (HE) Water Softeners: These systems are designed to provide efficient water softening with minimal salt and water usage. They utilize smart technology to optimize regeneration cycles based on your water consumption patterns.
  2. Culligan Medallist Series Water Softeners: This series offers reliable and durable water softeners with efficient performance. They are designed for homes with moderate to high water hardness levels.
  3. Culligan Gold Series Water Softeners: These softeners feature advanced technology for efficient water softening and offer customization options to suit your specific needs. They are known for their reliability and durability.
  4. Culligan Total Home Water Softeners: These systems provide comprehensive water treatment solutions by combining water softening with other features such as whole-house filtration or drinking water systems, addressing multiple water concerns in one unit.
  5. Culligan High-Efficiency Twin or Duplex Water Softeners: These systems consist of two tanks, allowing continuous soft water supply even during the regeneration process. They are suitable for homes with high water usage or when uninterrupted soft water is essential.

When selecting a Culligan water softener for your home, it’s crucial to consider factors like your water hardness level, water usage patterns, space availability for installation, and any specific concerns you have (such as water efficiency or additional water treatment needs).

Solutions

Suggested Products

Culligan Water Softeners in Your Home

Aquasential™ Smart High Efficiency Water Softener

  • Smart brine tank auto-monitors salt levels
  • Convenient auto-bypass valve
  • Reliable non-corrosive valve
  • Worry-free maintenance