Is Hard Water Harmful?
In short, no — the general consensus is that it is not harmful to your health to ingest hard water. In fact, the World Health Organization maintains that hard water may even be beneficial as it provides a steady supply of vital minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
However, just because hard water does not pose any serious health risks, to say that it is completely harmless would be inaccurate; over time, hard water can cause significant damage to your plumbing, appliances, fixtures, dishes, clothing and more. Beyond this, hard water can be a nuisance when it comes to performing daily tasks such as showering, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
Perhaps the most commonly observed indication of hard water is a crusty buildup of limescale on and around kitchen and bathroom faucets. Dishes and silverware that come out of the dishwasher with a white filmy residue on them is another mark of hard water and one that can make cleaning especially difficult.
When it comes to bathing and washing clothes, because of the high concentration of minerals in hard water, you’ll need to use more soap or detergent to achieve the same level of cleanliness than you would with softer water. Moreover, if the mineral levels are high enough, hard water can even neutralize the active ingredients in some synthetic detergents, rendering them ineffective. Bathing with hard water can be challenging as soap does not come to a lather quite as easily as it does with softer water, but rather, forms sticky soap curds. These soap curds tend to leave behind a filmy residue on the skin, which some people find itchy and irritating, and in the hair, which can make it brittle, dull, and difficult to manage. Similarly, when doing laundry, these soap curds get lodged in between clothing fibers, making the fabric stiff and rough, and can also cause white fabrics to turn gray and colored fabrics to lose their brightness. Over time, this buildup of soap curds can cause clothes to develop a sour odor.
The Struggle Is Real
If like many Nashville, Tennessee, residents, you struggle with hard water at your home, American Home Design can help. As an authorized dealer of RainSoft® home water treatment products, we can install a water conditioning system that will effectively soften the water in your home, making it easier to complete everyday tasks like bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry, and more, without having to deal with soapy residue or brittle, faded clothing. Our highly trained technicians can answer any questions you have about the hard water in your area and help you choose the right water treatment system for your home.
To learn more about how we can put an end to your hard water woes, contact American Home Design today to schedule a free initial consultation at your Nashville-area home.
