It’s funny, we don’t often think about our water that much. It’s one of those things that we have got is used to having. Like light and heat, that we just take it for granted. However, the quality of our tap water can effect of a lot of things in our home. Especially if it is hard water. Read on to find out more, and how you can deal with the problem.
What is hard water?
As rainwater is acidic, as its passes through certain types of rocks it dissolves the compounds that they are made from. This is usually magnesium and carbon. This then becomes part of the water.
This mean if you are in a part of the country that has a lot of magnesium or carbon based rocks like limestone, then you are more likely to have hard water.
Why does having hard water matter?
Having hard water matters because it can create all sorts of problems. It makes your washing less effective as its hard to get the suds going. It also can cause damage to the water pipes and appliances in your home. This then ends up in a higher frequency of breakages in washing machines, kettles, and dishwashers.
In hard water’s defense, though, some people believe it is better for you. This is because it contains minerals that work against the development of osteoporosis in later life.
How can I tell I have hard water?
It’s pretty easy to tell if you have hard or soft water. The main test is to lather up some soap or detergent using the water. If you get a lot of bubbles and foam, then it is soft. The mineral content in hard water interferes with the process of lathering. So if you struggle to get many bubbles, then it’s a good bet that your water is hard.
What can I do about hard water?
As hard water is such an issue, there have been several different types of ways to deal with this developed. The first is to use a water softener. Using a softener can help to improve the quality of the water, reducing its hardness.
Water softeners work by changing the magnesium and calcium into sodium through a negative ion charge. But this can be a problem for those on a low sodium diet. Therefore it’s better for them to choose a water filter, which does not produce any sodium when working sit magic.
The other option is to use a water filtration system. Instead of combating the chemicals that have been dissolved into the water, a filtration system will remove them.
You can use filtration devices like jugs where you pour the water in and then allow it to filter before drinking or using it. Or you can have a sink based filtration unit that will automatically filter the water for you before it comes out of the tap. This second option is better if you need larger amounts of water filtering for washing up etc.
