Hard Water Signs and Solutions

Hard water is one of the most common water complaints in homes, and it's easy to miss because it's not a health hazard. Over time, though, it costs money in cleaning products, damaged fixtures and shorter appliance life. Here's how to recognize it, what causes it and how it's fixed.

Common hard water signs

• Scale buildup: white, chalky crust on faucets, showerheads and inside kettles.
• Spots on dishes and glass: cloudy film on glasses and shower doors even after cleaning.
• Soap scum: soap and shampoo don't lather well and leave a sticky residue on tubs and tile.
• Dry skin and hair: many people notice skin feels tight and hair feels dull or stiff after showering.
• Appliance and water heater wear: scale collects in water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines, which can reduce efficiency and shorten their life.
• Low water pressure: scale can gradually narrow pipes and clog aerators.

What causes hard water

Hardness comes from dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium, that water picks up as it moves through soil and rock. It's usually measured in grains per gallon (gpg) or milligrams per liter. The higher the number, the harder the water and the more scale it can leave behind. Hardness levels vary from home to home, and private well water can be quite different from town water a mile away, so a hard water problem on the South Shore depends on your specific source.

How a water softener fixes it

Most residential water softeners use ion exchange. Water flows through a tank of resin beads that trap calcium and magnesium and release sodium or potassium in their place. When the resin is full, the softener automatically regenerates by rinsing the beads with brine from a salt tank. The result is softened water at every tap, which means less scale, easier cleaning and better soap performance.

A softener handles hardness. It isn't designed to remove chlorine taste, sulfur odor or most other contaminants, which is why softeners are often paired with filtration. Some homeowners also add reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink for drinking water.

• Hardness plus whole-home filtration: whole-home filter and softener.
• Add great-tasting drinking water: filter, softener and drinking-water RO.

Testing for hardness

Before choosing a softener, test your water. Hardness, along with iron and pH, affects which softener and settings will work. A free in-home water test measures hardness on the spot so the system can be sized correctly. If you're on a private well, consider a certified lab test as well to check for things a softener won't address.

If you're seeing scale, spots or soap scum, a quick test will tell you whether hard water is the cause and what it would take to fix it.

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