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If you have hard water in your home, you know that it interferes with just about every cleaning task. Your clothes may look dingy and harsh, and you can spot dishes and glasses after they dry. Hard water can even cause a film to form on metal and drink, and your plumbing and appliances may become more prone to corrosion. Using hard water can also result in decreased water flow. You can learn more through hard water treatment Tampa as well.
Hard water causes a host of problems.
While it may contribute to your daily calcium and magnesium intake, hard water can also cause various other issues, including dry skin and higher energy bills. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common problems associated with this mineral. Let’s start with a basic definition. Hard water contains more magnesium than calcium and is referred to as “hard water.”
First of all, hard water binds with soap, making dishes scummy. Even worse, soap scum left on shower curtains can breed microbial biofilm, a source of disease-spreading bacteria. Hard water also affects household appliances, reducing their efficiency. Dishwashers, coffee makers, and washing machines slow down because of calcium deposits. Hard water is the number one source of these problems.
It can cause hair loss.
You’ve probably heard about the possibility that hard water can cause hair loss. After all, the majority of U.S. households have hard water. It has been linked to dry scalp, hair loss, and other problems, but is hard water the root cause? There’s conflicting research. Here are a few reasons why it might cause thinning hair loss.
Hard water has minerals and oxidizers that are negatively and positively charged. These minerals and oxidizers attract negatively charged hair, reducing its strength and thinning and fall. The concentration of minerals in water determines its hardness. Many people use water softeners to reduce the number of minerals in their water, but there’s still no definitive proof that hard water can cause hair loss. While there is no direct evidence that hard water causes hair loss, minerals found in hard water can cause hair to become weak and break, resulting in thinning and hair loss. One study published in the International Journal of Dermatology evaluated 15 hair samples. They were cut into equal lengths, washed with hard water, and tested daily for 30 days to determine the effects.
It can affect plumbing systems.
You might not think that hard water can affect your plumbing systems, but it can. For example, you may notice buildup in your faucets and drains, water spots on your dishes, or water residue in your laundry. While hard water rarely affects your health, it can ruin your pipes and most essential appliances. So if you’ve been having problems with hard water in your home, it’s time to take action.
As water flows through your pipes, it collects sediments and minerals that can lead to clogged pipes. The minerals that cause this buildup are magnesium, calcium, iron, and copper. These minerals can affect your plumbing systems and cause damage to your appliances. To avoid this, you should schedule regular plumbing services. Make sure to check the hardness of your water to prevent expensive injuries.
It can affect appliances.
Although most water is made up of H2O, some water contains high concentrations of minerals that can damage appliances. Calcium and magnesium are the most common culprits. These minerals coat pipes and devices and can lead to premature failure. Even one-eighth-inch of scale can increase energy costs by 10%. To learn more about how hard water affects your appliances, read on. The most obvious way to check if your water is hard is to run a test. There are many testing kits available. You can also fill a plastic bottle with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Shake the bottle well to remove the soap suds, and look for a minimum of bubbles. If the suds are minimal, you likely have hard water. Hard water will affect your appliances and your skin.
It can damage home appliances too.
Minerals found in hard water will affect your home appliances. These minerals can cause stains on your clothes and sinks. They also make washing clothes and dishwashers more complicated and require more significant amounts of detergent and soap. They also reduce the life of your appliances. Use a water softener to clean your home appliances. Hard water can also cause calcium and limescale to build up on your faucets and bathtubs.
To test your water quality, fill a clean bottle with one-third tap water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Shake it a few times. If there are bubbles in the bottle, your water is soft; otherwise, it contains high levels of dissolved minerals. Hard water can also damage appliances. So it’s essential to keep them clean and lubricated to avoid these problems. Hard water is tough on devices that use hot water.
It can affect your health.
Drinking hard water has many detrimental effects on our health. It contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium, which can lead to various health problems. In high doses, these minerals can cause kidney stones, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes. While excess calcium is linked to various health issues, excessive magnesium can lead to other problems. Some areas of the country have double the recommended daily allowance for magnesium.
One such health risk is radon, an odorless gas that can lead to lung cancer. The Surgeon General has listed radon as the second-leading cause of lung cancer. The other potential health risk from hard water is dry hair and skin, so you may consider installing a water-softening system for your home. Hard water contains high concentrations of calcium and magnesium, two of the essential minerals in our bodies. These minerals can build up on the skin’s surface and stay there for extended periods.