Do you wash your dishes and get spots on them? Or maybe they even become covered in a white film over time? This is because of all the minerals in the water. It does not mean that we have bad water, just that there are minerals in the water that are not all removed. According to the United States Geological Survey, this is a common issue for most Americans. They reported that 85% of American homes have issues with hard water.
Historically, the Edwards Aquifer has been the primary water source for much of the Austin and Central Texas area. With the recent growth this area has experienced, this is not the case anymore. Ground water, such as the Edwards Aquifer, is naturally higher in mineral content and harder than surface water such as lakes and rivers. The minerals found in the water can affect your dishes and bathing routines, but more importantly they can create issues with your water heater, dishwasher, and plumbing. Hard water is less of a health issue and more of an expense issue. Over time, the mineral deposits can build up and form a scale that clogs plumbing and may reduce water flow and cause appliances to break prematurely.
Many people prefer to install a water softener to help soften the water. The most popular option is a salt-based softener. The salt creates an ion exchange to help remove the higher levels of magnesium and calcium that make the water hard and replaces them with sodium or potassium. It is important to make sure that your water softener is set to the correct setting and is not releasing too much salt. With the tremendous growth Central Texas has seen recently, many places have had to look for water sources to use in addition to the Edwards Aquifer. Since the other sources typically are surface water, the water is not as hard. Pflugerville, among other places has experienced problems with too much salt being released into the city water supply from water softeners. This problem can be easily fixed by making sure your water softener is working properly, the settings are appropriately adjusted, and that your softener is not too old to be working effectively.
Do you have questions about if you should install a water softener? Are you wondering which type of softener would be best for your home? Maybe you would just like to know if there is harmful build up in your water heater or other plumbing systems? 1st Home and Commercial Services can help you with these questions and help clean up any hard water issues you might be having in your home. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.