Residents of Boston, beware: you may have experienced strange, unexplainable happenings in your homes. Frequent blockages in water fixtures with no apparent reasons? Your laundry appears dull despite repeated washes, and your kitchen appliances are showing signs of failure. While you scratch your head, thinking, what could have caused all this?
Let us solve the mystery. Hard water may be the culprit. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Read this blog to discuss the impact of hard water on your Boston home and learn what you can do about it.
What Is Hard Water?
Water with excessive minerals like calcium and magnesium is called hard water. Although it is safe for drinking, these minerals create significant plumbing and appliance problems.
Boston has moderately hard water. The typical measure of mineral content in Boston’s water is 8PPM, creating residential issues. The impact of hard water is often seen slowly over time, but the effects can be significant.
How Does Hard Water Affect Your Home?
Due to hard water, several types of problems appear in Boston homes. From clogged pipes to higher energy bills, the impact of hard water can be far-reaching. Let’s look at some of them.
Clogged Pipes And Faucets
As time passes, minerals in hard water build-up inside your plumbing system. Limestone deposits from hard water accumulate inside plumbing fixtures throughout your home. Water clogging builds in plumbing and creates reduced water pressure. Without proper maintenance, pipes can completely block or suffer from metal erosion.
Dull Laundry And Stiff Towels
The presence of hard water prevents your detergent from dissolving completely. The minerals in hard water reduce the cleaning power of your detergent, which affects your laundry results. Your laundry fabric feels rougher and shows signs of earlier wear and tear. Also, hard water minerals settle onto towel fibers, reducing their natural softness.
Soap Scum And Water Stains
When hard water exists in your water supplies, you will see soap scum buildup. When soap meets hard water’s minerals, it creates a sticky, greasy film. This type of staining is common in places such as shower walls, bathtubs, and sinks. It can make cleaning more complicated, and the stains can become permanent over time.
Shortened Appliance Lifespan
The minerals in hard water cause numerous problems for home equipment that uses water. Specific home appliances like dishwashers, water heaters, and washing machines are most affected by hard water. Mineral deposits lower appliance performance, so they draw more power while losing durability faster than normal. Water heaters stop working properly when sediment collects within their system.
Increased Energy Costs
When minerals accumulate in water heaters and pipes, utility bills rise. These minerals can also make heating and cooling harder for HVAC systems. Your appliances need extra energy when they process this hard water because their work efficiency drops.
What Solutions Exist To Reduce The Impact Of Hard Water?
The good news is that you don’t have to live with all this. Trying different solutions can protect your Boston home from hard water troubles. Some of these solutions are:
Install A Water Softener
The best solution for hard water treatment is to add a water softener. It replaces calcium and magnesium ions in water with sodium or potassium minerals. It prevents the minerals from building up in your plumbing and appliances, ultimately reducing the impact of hard water.
Your home needs a water softener that matches your water consumption, so choose the best system. A plumbing professional can help you determine your exact needs for the correct installation.
Use A Descaling Agent
If hard water has damaged your appliances, you should consider using a descaling product. It dissolves the mineral deposits in your household appliances and helps them regain their performance.
Clean Regularly
You prevent mineral buildup in your bathroom and kitchen by cleaning them consistently. Clean soap scum and limescale by running a solution of vinegar mixed with water. For stubborn stains, use specialized hard water cleaning products. Regular cleaning of affected spots helps protect your home from mineral buildup.
Consider A Whole House Filtration System
In addition to a water softener, you should install a whole-house water filtering system throughout your home. These systems filter chlorine and iron particles to make your water cleaner, improving your home water quality. If you want to reduce hard water’s impact on a larger scale, a filtration system could be a good option.
How Serious Are The Boston Hard Water Woes?
The impact of hard water in Boston may not be as severe as in other parts of the country with extremely hard water, but it’s still something to be wary of. Mineral deposits accumulate gradually and harm your home’s plumbing network and electric devices. Boston’s vintage homes make homeowners more vulnerable to mineral buildups in outdated pipes.
Hard water may cause plumbing problems and appliance failures. Handling these symptoms now will save you from bigger expenses and further property damage later.
Conclusion: Tackle The Impact Of Hard Water Head-On
Despite Boston’s hard water problem, you can protect your property and appliances. By understanding the impact of hard water and taking action to prevent mineral buildup, you can protect your home, save on energy costs, and ensure that your water is working as efficiently as possible.
Take the first step toward discovering the quality of water in your home. To determine if hard water issues exist in your Boston home, you need to book a professional inspection. RJ Home Inspections examines your plumbing infrastructure to detect hard water damage and suggests strategies for optimal home performance.
Contact RJ Home Inspections to perform your water quality test so your home maintains excellent water condition. Don’t ignore hard water issues; let us help you solve them right now.