Adverse Effects of Hard Water and Hard Water Scale
How Drinking Water is Made
85% of United States Has Hard Water
Hard water is water which contains a high concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium ions. Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates.
The term hardness was originally applied to waters that were hard to wash in, referring to the soap wasting properties of hard water. Hardness prevents soap from lathering by causing the development of an insoluble curdy precipitate in the water.
Hard water is found in over 85% of the United States.
According to a the United States Geological Survey, over 85 percent of homes in the United States have hard water.
Hard water causes the buildup of scale in pipes, water heaters, and appliances — anything that water flows through or touches. It causes numerous problems in laundry, kitchen, and bath.
Water hardness is measured by the total dissolved solids (TDS). TDS refers to total dissolved solids which includes any minerals, salts, metals, and other chemicals dissolved in water. It is measured in milligrams per unit volume in grains per gallon (gpg) or parts per million (ppm).
Water Classification
mg/l or ppm
grains/gallon
Soft
0 - 17.1
0 - 1
Slightly hard
17.1 - 60
1 - 3.5
Moderately hard
60 - 120
3.5 - 7.0
Hard
120 - 180
7.0 - 10.5
Very Hard
180+
10.5+
Adverse Effects of Hard Water and Hard Water Scale
Hard water is water which contains a high concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium ions. Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates.
Hard Water Scale is a hard, chalky deposit, consisting mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that builds up on anything that water (especially hot water) flows through or touches — dishes, pots, silverware, bathroom surfaces, faucet cartridges, faucets, shower systems, dishwasher, washing machine, hot water heater, pipes, and so on.
Hard water scale is caused by calcium and magnesium being left behind when hard water evaporates. Hard water, which is water that contains a higher mineral content, is the root cause of hard water scale. When it evaporates from a surface, it leaves behind calcium and magnesium deposits.
Hard Water Scale Slowly Destroys Everything It Touches
Hard water scale diminishes the luster of faucets, shower systems, and bathroom surfaces. It deteriorates and clogs cartridges, faucets, shower systems, appliances, and pipes thereby degrading their performance while significantly reducing their life span.
The hard water that flows through the pipes within your house slowly causes hard water scale formation on, and damage to, a variety of important and expensive surfaces, appliances, fixtures, items, valves, cartridges, pipes, and components — adversely affecting their appearance, performance, efficiency, and lifespan. Hard water and hard water scale are slow destroyers of any pipe, appliance, or surface in your house where hard water flows.
Symptoms of Hard Water
How do you know if you have hard water? Signs of hard water in your home include:
White scaling on faucets
Soap scum on tubs and sinks
Dingy whites from your laundry
Mineral residue left on dishes and glassware
Stiff, dingy laundry
Mineral deposits on dishes and glassware
High soap usage and need for fabric softeners
Extra work to remove soap curd on bathtubs and shower stalls
High energy costs, possibly due to scale build-up in pipes and on appliances
Scale build up in sinks, tubs, faucets and appliances
Hard Water and Hard Water Scale Slowly Destroy Anything They Touch
Scale deposits from hard water minerals affect fixtures and appliances found throughout the entire home or business.
The hard water that flows through the pipes within your home slowly causes hard water scale formation on, and damage to, a variety of important and expensive surfaces, appliances, fixtures, items, valves, cartridges, pipes, and components — adversely affecting their appearance, performance, efficiency, and lifespan. Hard water and hard water scale are slow destroyers of any pipe, appliance, or surface in your home where hard water flows.
With many chemicals, the hotter the substance the chemical is dissolved in is, the more of that chemical can dissolve. This is not the case with the minerals in scale buildup. The hotter the water is, the more calcium and magnesium comes out of solution and forms solid deposits.
Skin and Hair
Minerals dissolved in the hard water create a residue on your skin and hair
Washing or bathing in hard water consistently can reduce moisture in your skin.
Washing your hair in hard water can cause dandruff or dry skin problems.
Hard water can make current skin conditions such as eczema worse.
Hard water build up on hair
Hard to lather with shampoo.
The minerals present in hard water can make it difficult to achieve a thorough rinse, causing buildup in your hair, which can leave behind residue.
Thinning hair and breakage caused by hard water.
Dishes and Glasses
Hard water scale accumulation on glass.
Hard water leaves a residue on all of surfaces it touches
Spotted dishes and glasses
Using hard water to run your dishwasher can leave spots or other residues on your dishes and glassware.
Faucets
Hard water scale accumulation on faucet and cartridge.
Hard water scale build up on cartridges degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on aerators, which degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on handles, which degrades their proper functioning detracts from its appearance
Greatly extends life of faucets, faucet cartridges, and faucet components
Shower Surfaces
Hard water deposits on shower door.
Hard water scale coats bathroom surfaces to make shower walls, panels, and doors look dull and dirty.
No lime scale build up on cartridges, which degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on shower heads, which degrades their proper functioning, mar their appearance, and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on handles, which degrades their proper functioning detracts from its appearance
Greatly extends life of showers, shower cartridges, and shower components
Elimination of soap scum. (The calcium and magnesium ions in the water react with compounds in soaps to produce insoluble stearate salts which creates soap scum.)
Shower and Tub Faucets
Hard water scale accumulation on shower and tub faucets and parts.
It can also leave residue on shower heads and faucets.
Hard water will often cause spots on any metal or chrome fixtures.
No lime scale build up on cartridges, which degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on shower heads, which degrades their proper functioning, mar their appearance, and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on handles, which degrades their proper functioning detracts from its appearance
Greatly extends life of showers, shower cartridges, and shower components
Scale formation on faucets and shower heads
Bath Tubs and Sinks
Hard water scale accumulation in bathroom sink.
It can also leave residue on shower heads and faucets.
Hard water will often cause spots on any metal or chrome fixtures.
No lime scale build up on cartridges, which degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on shower heads, which degrades their proper functioning, mar their appearance, and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on handles, which degrades their proper functioning detracts from its appearance
Greatly extends life of showers, shower cartridges, and shower components
Scale formation on faucets and shower heads
Toilet Bowl
Hard water deposits in toilet bowl.
It can also leave residue on shower heads and faucets.
Hard water will often cause spots on any metal or chrome fixtures.
No lime scale build up on cartridges, which degrades their proper functioning and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on shower heads, which degrades their proper functioning, mar their appearance, and are costly to replace
No lime scale build up on handles, which degrades their proper functioning detracts from its appearance
Greatly extends life of showers, shower cartridges, and shower components
Scale formation on faucets and shower heads
Washing Machine
Washing clothes with hard water can eventually cause fabrics to break down.
Hard water can cause washing machines to work harder than necessary.
You may need to use more detergent than usual.
Hard water and hard water scale significantly reduces the life span of your washing machine.
Dishwasher
Hard water scale coated on bottom of a dishwasher.
Reduced soap usage
Less spotting
No scale formation
Significantly extends life span of dishwasher
Water Heater
Hard water scale accumulation within a water heater.
Hard water's minerals can solidify in the form of hard water scale buildup on the bottom of your water heater's tank. This forms a layer between your water heater burners and the water inside the tank. It then becomes much more difficult for the burners to heat the water.
Scale in the water heater increases energy usage
Need to periodically flush water heater
Water heaters that use hard water will usually need flushing every three months. This time frame may vary depending on the degree of hardness of the water.
Hard water lowers the efficiency of a water heater and raises your operating costs. In a typical gas-powered water heater, a set of burners from the bottom heats the water in the tank. Hard water’s minerals can solidify in the form of hard water scale buildup on the bottom of your water heater’s tank. This forms a layer between your water heater burners and the water inside the tank. It then becomes much more difficult for the burners to heat the water. This reduces efficiency by as much as 60%, increases costs, and finally reduces the capacity of the tank.
Significantly reduces life span of water heater
Hard water scale buildup can greatly reduce the lifespan of your hot water heater.
Pipes
Hard water scale accumulation within water pipes.
Scale accumulation in pipes.
Hard water deposits can clog pipes. This can also lead to reduced water pressure.
If left untreated, repairing and replacing pipes damaged by hard water can be a very time consuming and expensive process.
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