The Science Behind Hard Water
The hardness of a water reflects its overall calcium ions (Ca ++ ) and magnesium (Mg ++ ) content.
Hard water is a water laden with limestone. Water that tends to deposit scaling in your appliances, clog pipes in the house and overuse soap and detergents. Its usually not wanted due to the problems it can cause for the house and its occupants.
The total hardness is taken into consideration whenever it is necessary to avoid harmful or annoying reactions between the Ca ++ and Mg ++ ions and the products put in contact with the water (soaps in domestic use, many products in industrial processes).
Calculating Hardness of Water:
Hardness is calculated in two ways: in grain per gallon (GPG) or in parts per million CaCO3 (ppm). 1 GPG = 17.1 PPM
According to the Water Quality Association:
Hardness: Water that naturally contains dissolved elements containing calcium and magnesium and sometimes divalent or trivalent elements of metallic origin. The term hardness comes from the fact that water is difficult to use for washing.
When hard water heats up or evaporates, limescale deposits form, posing a major problem in pipes and appliances where hot water circulates. For example, a washing machine will need to be descaled regularly to prevent the accumulation of deposits. Some devices will also see their energy efficiency drop due to the excessive hardness of the water. In addition, consumers will tend to use more washing powder because the limestone prevents the product from foaming sufficiently.
Freshwater: less than 1 grain per gallon (- 17.1 ppm)
Slightly hard: 1 to 3.5 grains per gallon (17.1 to 60 ppm)
Medium hard: 3.5 to 7 grain per gallon (60 to 120 ppm)
Hard: 7 to 10.5 grains per gallon (120 to 180 ppm)
Very hard: 11 grain per gallon and over (188 ppm and over)
Signs of Hard Water In Your Home
If you are like most people, you will be surprised to learn in what ways hard water can affect your life. It can dry your skin, dull the color of your clothes, leave stains on dishes and counter tops, and even dull accessories and damage expensive appliances.
You wouldn’t know the cause of these issues unless you can connect the dots. Check out the signs below and see if they are happening to you. There is a good chance hard water is causing the problem if they are.
1) Household appliances
With regards to the hardness of water and household chores, hard water has two problems:
- First, is the formation of limestone deposits (scale), which damage machines and reduce the efficiency of hot water systems, resulting in increased energy expenditure.
- The second problem concerns soaps and detergents. These products are less effective and must therefore be put in larger quantities for an equivalent result. Their use is more expensive and leads to greater water pollution.
2) Tight skin
Is your skin torn, tingling, or irritated? Do you suffer from psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis and your symptoms are particularly present? It may be just the water that you bath with is causing these inconveniences. On particularly sensitive skin, hard water can have unwanted effects such as desquamations (detachments of the upper layer of the epidermis).
3) Dry Hair
Like any other skin, the scalp is sensitive to the effects of limestone. In addition to the possible itching that can be caused, the effects of hard water can be seen directly on the hair: dull, brittle, rough…etc Their fragility and their appearance can be signs that your water is hard.
4) Stiff clothes
Hard water contains dissolved minerals. During the wash, these minerals get caught in the fibers of your clothes and adhere the detergents to the fabrics. In addition, as if that were not enough, these detergent and mineral residues cook on the fabric in the dryer, dulling the colors and leaving the fabric stiff and rough.
Hard water hurts your appliances. The minerals it contains accumulate inside the pipes, resulting in reduced water pressure, increased energy consumption and more work on your devices that wear out more quickly.
If you suspect that your home is suffering from hard water, don’t hesitate to contact Wil to fix the problem.