Key takeaways
- Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium, and much of Southwest Ohio has it.
- White crust on faucets, spotted glasses and weak showerheads are common signs.
- Scale in a water heater makes it work harder and can shorten its life.
- A softener removes the minerals; other systems only change how scale forms. Test your water first.
What hard water is
Hard water is water with a high amount of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. Rain and groundwater pick these up as they move through limestone and gravel. Much of Southwest Ohio sits on that kind of geology, so hard water is common across the region, though the level varies by utility and neighborhood.
Hardness is usually measured in grains per gallon or in milligrams per liter. The simplest way to find your level is to read your water provider's annual quality report or to use a test kit from a hardware store or a water treatment professional. If you use a private well, test it directly.
For most people hard water is not a health concern. It is a nuisance and a maintenance issue. The minerals come out of solution when water is heated or evaporates, and they harden into scale.
Signs in your house
You can usually see hard water before you test it.
- White or gray chalky crust around faucets and on showerheads
- Cloudy spots on glasses and dishes, even after the dishwasher
- Soap that does not lather well and leaves a film in the tub
- Stiff laundry and dry-feeling skin or hair
- A shower that has lost force because holes in the head are clogged
- A faucet aerator that fills with grit
- Crust inside the kettle or coffee maker
Buildup inside pipes is harder to see. Over years, scale narrows the inside of a pipe, which can lower flow, especially in hot water lines. In older homes with galvanized steel pipe, scale and corrosion together can restrict flow noticeably.
Fixtures wear too. Scale can make a cartridge stiff, cause a valve to stick, and shorten the life of a faucet. For help with worn fixtures, see fixtures.
Water heaters and appliances
Heat makes minerals fall out of the water, so the water heater takes the worst of it. In a tank heater, scale collects on the bottom of the tank and on the heating element in an electric unit. A layer of scale insulates the water from the heat source, so the heater takes longer to heat the water and uses more energy. You may hear popping or rumbling as water boils under the scale. Over time, the scale can shorten the life of the tank.
Many manufacturers recommend flushing a tank water heater regularly to clear sediment, and checking the anode rod, which protects the tank from corrosion. Hard water makes that more important. Tankless heaters need periodic descaling, and many have a descale procedure in their manual. Handling gas or electrical connections and the temperature and pressure relief valve is work for a plumber, so a water heater that rumbles, leaks or has gone cold is worth a call. See water heaters.
Dishwashers, washing machines, coffee makers and humidifiers all collect scale too, and their lifespans reflect it.
Cleaning scale and softener basics
For light scale on fixtures, white vinegar works. Soak a showerhead or aerator in a bag or bowl of vinegar for a while, then rinse and brush it. Do not use vinegar on natural stone, and check the manufacturer's care instructions for finishes such as brushed brass, oil-rubbed bronze or anything with a delicate coating, since acid can damage them.
If scale keeps coming back, a water softener addresses the cause. The most common type uses an ion exchange resin. As water passes through a tank of resin beads, calcium and magnesium are swapped for sodium or potassium. When the beads fill up, the unit regenerates with a salt or potassium brine and flushes the minerals down a drain. You refill the salt periodically.
A few things to know before installing one:
- Softeners are sized to the household and the hardness of the water, so test first.
- A softener is installed on the main water line, usually with a bypass and a drain connection, so a plumber should handle it.
- Softened water adds a small amount of sodium. People on a low-sodium diet should ask their doctor, and potassium is an alternative.
- Many people leave outdoor hose bibs on unsoftened water.
Salt-free conditioners change how the minerals form scale instead of removing them. They can reduce buildup in some conditions, but they do not soften water the same way. A water treatment professional can help you pick based on your water test. See water treatment.
Living with hard water
If you do not want a softener, a few habits keep scale in check. Clean aerators and showerheads a few times a year. Wipe fixtures dry. Flush the water heater as the manufacturer recommends. Keep an eye on the pressure and flow at each fixture, because a gradual drop is often scale.
If you see a sudden loss of hot water, a rumbling tank, or leaking at the base of the water heater, do not wait. For wider issues such as pressure, leaks and winter protection, return to the main guide. To talk through a softener or a water heater problem, contact a plumber.
Frequently asked questions
Is hard water safe to drink?
For most people, yes. The minerals in hard water are not a health concern. The issues are mostly practical, including scale on fixtures and heaters, spotty dishes and dry-feeling skin.
How do I know if I have hard water?
White crust on faucets and showerheads, spotted glasses and soap that does not lather are common signs. Your water provider's quality report or a simple test kit gives you an actual hardness level.
Does a water softener remove all the minerals?
An ion exchange softener removes calcium and magnesium that cause scale, swapping them for sodium or potassium. It does not remove everything from water, and it needs salt refills and periodic maintenance.
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