Hard water is a widespread issue facing homeowners in and around New Castle. Unfortunately, it can cause serious damage if left untreated.

Learning the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your home plumbing Below, the professional local plumbers at Central Heating & Plumbing will explain what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. Then, we’ll explain how we can protect your home.

What’s the Difference: Hard Water vs. Soft Water?

So, what exactly is hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are safe for consumption but can harm your plumbing.

Soft water, by contrast has those minerals neutralized. Unlike hard water, soft water is safe for your plumbing.

Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:

  • A chalky, white residue on fixtures
  • Lower water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up well
  • Spots on dishes after washing in dishwasher

If you notice any of these signs, call Central Heating & Plumbing for a professional water quality assessment. Our knowledgeable staff will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we know exactly how hard your water is and how to fix it.

Common Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why is it important to know if you are dealing with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to stick to the inside of your pipes, which forms something called limescale.

Limescale in plumbing narrows the diameter of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or leaks.

Below are some examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause throughout your plumbing system:

Pipe Damage and Leaks

Hard water scale buildup along the inside of pipes can create uneven surfaces. This increases the speed of corrosion and creates a higher chance of small leaks. This is a greater concern in older metal plumbing.

Damage to Your Appliances

Mineral limescale buildup in your washing machine or boiler can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to strain to operate by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to wear out faster.

Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale forms inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of restricted water flow, such as weaker shower streams or tubs taking longer to fill with water.

Soap Scum Acculation and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is noticeable soap scum and hard water stains:

  • Soap scum: Appears when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to form insoluble salts. This cloudy residue doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and deposits minerals. It can appear as a crust around faucets, as well as spots, streaks or rings in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even cloud your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have red or brown hues if your water contains high levels of iron.

Easy, Afforable Ways to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Central Heating & Plumbing

How do you get rid of hard water? From professional water quality testing to prevention, Central Heating & Plumbing provides comprehensive hard water solutions in New Castle. We fix hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore water flow.

Our plumbing services also stop additional hard water issues before they start with water softener installation. We also can work with you to find the best filtration system to remove hard water for your home. Filtration systems and water softeners reduce limescale in your plumbing, providing clean, soft water.

Stop hard water damage today! Contact a local plumber from Central Heating & Plumbing by calling 724-530-3753 today!