Dealing With Hard Water With A Plumbing Company | Knoxville, TN
Monday, January 16th, 2023
The quality of the water that’s coming into your home from the main water supply is important. There are many different types of contaminants that could potentially be inside the water. While not all contaminants are harmful to the body, they may not be the best thing for your plumbing system. If you are unsure of what’s inside your water, contact a plumbing company in Knoxville, TN as soon as possible. We can conduct a water quality test and let you know what’s going on.
One of the main things that a plumbing company will look for is minerals in the water. Minerals in the water are natural and come from the landscape. It depends on where you live and where the water is coming from. Water can generally be separated into two different types: hard water and soft water.
What Is Hard Water? And, How Is It Different from Soft Water?
Hard water contains high levels of minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium. Soft water doesn’t.
These minerals are naturally present in soil and rock, and they can dissolve into water as it passes through the ground. These minerals are then carried into your home. A plumbing company in Knoxville, TN can provide you with information on the specific levels of minerals that are present.
Do You Live in a Region That’s Likely to Have Hard Water?
Before you contact a plumbing company, you might want to see whether it’s even possible for there to be hard water where you live. You’ll need to take a look at the geology of the region and the type of water treatment that is used.
In general, water that comes into contact with limestone, gypsum, and other rock formations is more likely to pick up minerals and become hard. Water that flows through sand, gravel, and other porous materials is less likely to pick up minerals and is more likely to be soft. Hard water is also more common in areas where water treatment plants do not use processes to remove minerals from the water.
If you think that hard water may not be that prevalent, think again. In general, hard water is more common in the United States than soft water. However, the specific levels of hardness can vary significantly from one region to another.
Can You Feel or Notice a Difference Between Hard Water and Soft Water?
Absolutely! Ask any plumbing company, and they will attest to the fact that it’s pretty easy to tell whether you have hard or soft water.
The most noticeable difference between hard and soft water is the way it feels when you shower. Take note of how the water hits the surface of your skin. Hard water tends to feel slippery, while soft water feels soapy. Hard water can also feel a bit more abrasive, as if the droplets are smacking into your skin. This part will depend on the water pressure coming from the showerhead. You can have a plumbing company adjust this or help you find better plumbing appliances.
Another difference is that hard water can cause soap to form a scum when it is mixed with water. This is particularly problematic for your plumbing appliances. The soap scum will cling onto the inside of the pipes. Eventually, they will clog the piping, and you’ll need to contact a plumbing company to come clean the pipes.
Hard water can also leave behind mineral deposits, or scale, on surfaces when it evaporates. This can be seen as a white, chalky film on shower heads, faucets, and other surfaces.
What Can I Do About Hard Water?
If you have hard water at home, it’s imperative that you take action by contacting a plumbing company as soon as possible. This isn’t something that you can handle on your own, and you definitely do not want to make a DIY job out of it.
To deal with the hard water, you’ll need to install a water softener that will get rid of the minerals. This water softener should be installed at the main entry point of the home, so that the water going through your plumbing doesn’t contain any minerals at all. If they do, they can greatly decrease the expected lifespan of your plumbing and cause many additional problems in the future.
There are many different types of water softeners, and our team will help you find the best one. There are many factors that you need to take into consideration, like the type of water softener that would be the best fit for your home.
There are two main types of water softeners: salt-based systems and salt-free systems. Salt-based systems use ion exchange to remove minerals from the water, while salt-free systems use a process called template-assisted crystallization to convert the minerals into a crystal form that cannot stick to surfaces.
Salt-based systems are more effective at removing minerals, but they require the use of salt to regenerate the system, which may not be desirable for those who are trying to avoid having too much exposure to salt or having salt in their diet. Salt-free systems do not require salt, but they are not as effective at removing minerals.
We Can Help!
If you are looking for a reliable plumbing company in Knoxville, TN, you can’t go wrong with My Professional Plumber. Not only do we have a lot of experience providing superior plumbing services, but we also have the tools needed to quickly help you inspect your plumbing. We can conduct a water quality test and tell you what types of minerals are present in the water supply. From there, we can help you figure out what to do next, and what you can install in your home to protect your plumbing for as long as possible.
At My Professional Plumber, we offer quality services at affordable prices, and can send you an estimate. You can trust that we will always have your best interests in mind, as you are our top priority!
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