Living in Jacksonville, FL means having to deal with hard water. It's a more serious problem that a lot of people realize and can cause a number of different problems in your home. What is hard water? What effects does it have on your home? And what can you do to prevent it? Here's what you need to know about hard water.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is water from your faucet or tap with a significant amount of mineral content - most commonly in the form of limestone. It can make it difficult to get a lather out of soap, and make it difficult to rinse that soap away.

This can lead to a number of problems in your home. Dishes come out of the dishwasher with water spots where the soap residue still clings to the dish. Similarly, the detergent remains in your laundry after it has been rinsed, causing colors to fade more quickly, as well as making your clothes itchy and uncomfortable to wear.

Hard water can also make showers difficult. Since building up a lather is more difficult, it's more difficult to wash properly. The soap can also leave behind a filmy residue on your body that's hard to rinse off and leads to dry skin.

Why Does Jacksonville Have Hard Water?

The hard water problem is very much a regional issue. It's common in the Southwestern United States, but it's also fairly prevalent throughout Florida, including Jacksonville. That's because Florida's topography is full of limestone and similar water-soluble rocks. When it rains, the limestone dissolves, and the rain picks up the sediment. Then that rain flows into the local water systems, and the mineral-heavy water flows through your faucets.

What Does Hard Water Do to Your Plumbing?

The limestone sediment from hard water can build up in your pipes. Particularly when using hot water, some of the water evaporates, and leaves the minerals behind. This is called scaling, and over time, it can reduce your water pressure and cause clogging.

The same thing can happen with appliances that use hot water, from your washing machine to your dishwasher, to your hot water heater and more. Hard water can damage these appliances and cause them to wear out much sooner than they normally would.

Why Should You Invest in a Water Softener?

A water softener is a tank that's attached to your home's pipes. The tank is full of resin beads, through which water passes before it enters your home. The beads are ionically charged to attract minerals and sediment. The sediment then remains in the tank, leaving you with clean water that won't damage your pipes or leave soapy residue. After a time, the tank is then flushed out with salt, which washes away the minerals and keeps the tank from getting too full.

By investing in a water softener for your home, you keep the limestone sediment from reaching your pipes. This prevents scaling, helping you to maintain water pressure and stopping your pipes from clogging. Dishes and clothes get cleaner as well, showers don't leave a soapy film behind, and the damage to your appliances is greatly reduced. If you have hard water, a water softener is an essential upgrade to your home's pipe system.

For help installing a water softening system in your home, call David Gray Plumbing at (904) 467-0784 or contact us online today.