Have you ever noticed when your shower clogs unexpectedly? Or your sink clogs out of the blue? The problem that lies here could be water hardness. Water hardness not only causes clogs in pipes but also causes complications when cleaning or doing laundry and creates scale buildup in plumbing fixtures which leads to dry skin and hair. 

In the United States, the majority of obstacles with water quality is water hardness, but how does hard water form? Hardness in water is largely caused by calcium and magnesium that have been broken down. These dissolved elements then gather in the water as it passes through soil and rock. Hard water can be regarded as the soap-consuming characteristics of water as the water will now require more soap to form suds. Whereas, water that needs less soap to form suds is known as soft water.

Hardness in water is quantified by computing the number of grains per gallon (gpg) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). For most uses 50 to 150 mg/l of hard water is allowed. For laundry purposes, the water hardness of 50 mg/l is found to be more cost-effective, but water hardness of 150 mg/l forms crustation and discolors surfaces. For household purposes, water softeners are used when concentration is elevated. For most public water providers, water hardness is treated to maintain a level of 85 mg/l for cost purposes. 

The table below will help you deduce the quantity of hardness in your water:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has constructed primary and secondary standards for drinkable water. The primary standards were established for health concerns whereas the secondary standards were constructed for aesthetics of taste, odor, and color. Although there are primary and secondary standards for drinkable water, there are no primary or secondary standards for water hardness. Hard water attributes a minor dosage of the overall calcium and magnesium levels humans need as disclosed by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. It is important to note that hardness in water is not a health concern but merely an inconvenience and an annoyance.

Hard Water Treatment

Water softeners, also known as ion exchangers, are utilized for the treatment of hard water. The procedure of treating water hardness is called ion exchange. The treatment allows for the water to flow through the ion exchange resin, or softening agent, as the calcium and magnesium ions are interchanged by sodium or potassium. For household purposes, the water softeners will need a resin tank, a control unit, and a storage container that holds the salt or potassium.

The efficiency of water softeners depends on how hard your water is. Before buying water softeners, your water hardness should be examined so you know the effectiveness of your treatments. There are a few considerations to determine the success of your treatment. The presence of iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide should be analyzed and equipment that is relative to the size of your household should be determined. Further, ensure that your equipment does not begin by a clock or by water usage, but only by demand for water softener regeneration. 

Before purchasing the equipment, verify that the manufacturer is a trusted brand for water treatment and that there is an available warranty agreement. Check that the business or individual you are planning to hire has been certified by the Water Quality Association, as they provide certification to those in the water quality improvement industry who have passed their inspections. Companies that have been certified have the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal of approval. The Gold Seal acknowledges that they pass the industry’s standards and confirms that their treatment performs as advertised. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) also certifies businesses for quality and performance. 

To configure the hardness of your water, you can purchase a test kit. The test kit will provide instructions on how to sample and ship your water specimen. Once your water is received and then inspected, a statement will be put together presenting all the findings. Recommendations, if applicable, will be included. 

If you want to determine the hardness of the water or you have any questions, we are here to answer them all! We are happy to serve all Davie residents (33330, 33326, 33314, 33312).

Click here to learn more about water treatment services or for more information or give us a call at 305-907-4621.