Have you heard the term “hard water”? What does that mean, and what causes water to be classified as “hard”? Is “hard water” a problem that you should be concerned about? Read on to find the answer to all your “hard water” related questions.

When water is referred to as hard it means that it has a high concentration of hard minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and other undissolved minerals. While calcium and magnesium are necessary for your health, their presence in water can cause trouble for your skin, hair, and appliances.

Hard water is measured in grains per gallon (gpg), and for water to be considered hard it must register above 3.5 gpgs.

Ok, so there are some extra minerals in your water. Is that a big deal? Aren’t these minerals good for you? The answer is yes, these minerals are good for you, but in your tap water, they can have effects on your skin, hair, laundry, dishes, and pipes.

The presence of hard water can cause dry skin and aggravate skin problems such as eczema. It can leave residue on dishes and surfaces and result in the quicker breakdown of clothing. Hard water can cause rust in your sink or showerhead, damage your appliances, and leave build up in your pipes that could cause plumbing issues.

Hard water can be problematic, but it doesn’t have to be.

The good news is that hard water is a problem that is easy to fix.

A water softening system is one way to protect your home from hard water. Water softening systems work by filtering out the hard minerals using resin beads within the softener system. Hard water entering your home will flow through the water softener and the resin will filter out the hard minerals and remove them from the water. Then the softened water will flow from the softening system into the plumbing of your home.

In a process called regeneration, a brine solution will clean the resin tank, exchanging the hard water minerals for sodium. The brine solution and hard minerals are then flushed from the tank, leaving it ready to continue removing the hard water from your home.

If a water softening system is not an option for you, Culligan also offers a Salt-Free Water Conditioner as a solution to the problem of hard water.

A salt-free water conditioner does not remove the minerals from the hard water but uses an anti-scaling resin to alter the chemical structure of the hard minerals. This will improve the feel of your water as well as help extend the lifespan of your plumbing and appliances. It will also reduce limescale build-up and make cleaning easier.

Protect your skin, hair, and home from hard water today by calling Culligan Water Kansas City at 913-782-4141 for a complimentary water assessment and we’ll personalize a plan to make sure your home has the best water possible.