Despite the clarity and perceived purity of water, it actually contains minerals like magnesium and calcium. The concentration of these chemicals determines whether the substance is hard or soft water. If you use hard water at home, you should know that it has some risks. Learn about these consequences and determine if you should have fox valley plumbing professionals install a water softener.

1. Skin and Hair Issues

The high amount of minerals in the water causes a detrimental effect on both your skin and hair. Specifically, the combination of soap and hard water creates a residue that blocks pores, resulting in dry and itchy skin. Additionally, the chemicals reduce the pH balance, leaving it especially vulnerable if you have skin conditions like eczema. When it comes to your hair, its negative charge strongly reacts to the hard water’s positive charge, weakening and breaking it.

2. Device Inefficiency

Devices that utilize water such as laundry machines and pipes become more inefficient with mineral-rich water. The reaction between this substance and detergents makes the latter less effective, necessitating higher temperatures and resulting in low quality washes. Cooking also becomes less time and cost-efficient, since the water’s heating point is raised by the concentrated minerals. Finally, the salts in the water cause a chemical reaction that corrodes your house’s pipes.

3. Reactions to Soap

Hard water’s reaction to soap is a common detriment, whether the soap is used for laundry or personal use. The film created from the combination makes washing difficult, making you uncomfortable and wasting both water and energy. When the substance is present during laundry, it also stains and discolors clothing, in addition to affecting its longevity. Discoloration and staining also occur if you attempt to wash dishes with soap and hard water.

Even though hard water is not deadly, it can still impact your quality of life. If you are affected by these disadvantages, talk to a plumber about softening solutions.