If you notice your faucets are covered in a hard white scaly deposit or that your skin is constantly dry and itchy, you might have a hard water problem. You are probably reading this to decide if you need to purchase a water softener or not.
Our 5-Star rated Queen Creek & Mesa Plumbers at Angry Pipe Solutions are here to help you decide whether a softener is right for you or not:
5 Signs You Need a Water Softener
1. You notice scale buildup on your faucets or dishes.
If you have scale, or “limescale”, chances are you have hard water. Limescale is made up of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate. These minerals form the chalky residue you may be finding on your shower head or dishes you just pulled straight off the dishwasher. However, the consequences of these mineral deposits are far from superficial. Hard Water scale buildup can cause clogged pipes, ruin appliances, and have a detrimental effect on your home’s plumbing system.
2. Dry hair & Skin.
Hard water can actually cause itchy dry skin and hair because there is so much extra calcium and magnesium salts floating around in your water. Soap and shampoo can only prevent this so much.
What happens is that water on your skin doesn’t nourish it — it just dries it out. Minerals in water settle on your skin and soap that doesn’t dissolve well in hard water can’t remove them. This leaves a residue on the skin that irritates it and makes it feel dry and rough. Hard water blocks pores and causes more inflammation and blackheads. It also makes your skin leathery and dry, while tarnishing it the way that glass without being rinsed will tarnish in the dishwasher.
3. Your appliances are not working as they should.
Most residential homes are plumbed with copper pipes. Copper has high corrosion resistance, however, it’s not immune to limescale build-up. Also, many of your connection points for appliances do not use copper. As limescale starts to build around the valves of your dishwasher and washing machine, the valves will become unable to fully close. This shortens the lifespan of your appliance and can lead to a costly leak.
4. You’re noticing an increase in your water bill
As your home’s plumbing becomes constricted with buildup, they have to work harder to let proper flow through. If you’re noticing an uptick in your bill it could be due to hard water causing a build-up in your pipes. Your local water utility can provide you with their hardness level. If it’s at a higher level, a water softener is almost a necessity.
5. Your dishes come out of the dishwasher looking chalky.
There is nothing more annoying than going to empty your dishwasher and finding all your dishes covered in a chalky, white residue. The same limescale that can have a detrimental effect on your appliances can also ruin your dishes.
A water softener can certainly help alleviate the limescale left on your dishes and glassware. A helpful tip to use while you’re waiting for our Queen Creek & Mesa Plumbing team to install your water softener is to use ½ cup of vinegar along with your dishwasher detergent. The vinegar will help prevent the build of limescale and is much cheaper than store-bought additives.
Water Softener Installation in Queen Creek, Mesa & the East Valley
Angry Pipe Solutions has earned a reputation of excellence in residential plumbing for a reason. We will take the time to explain our process, provide an estimate and make sure you’re satisfied with our work. Please take a moment to read what your neighbors have to say about us, then call us to schedule an appointment.