Hard water is a common problem for homeowners in and around Port Clinton. Unfortunately, it can result in costly damage if left untreated.

Understanding the difference between hard water vs. soft water is the first step in protecting your plumbing system and appliances. Below, the pros at Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. will define what hard water is, the warning signs you have hard water and how hard water affects your plumbing. We’ll also explain steps we can take to protect your home.

What’s the Between Hard Water and Soft Water?

What is hard water? It’s water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to drink but can harm your plumbing.

By comparison, soft water has those minerals removed. Unlike hard water, soft water is gentler on pipes.

Signs You Have Hard Water in Your Home

Hard water often leaves telltale clues around your home:

  • Chalky buildup on fixtures
  • Low water pressure
  • Dry skin or brittle hair
  • Stiff or faded laundry
  • Shampoo doesn’t lather up well
  • Spots on glasses after washing in dishwasher

If you notice any of these signs, call Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. for professional testing. We will test your water hardness levels (grains per gallon/PPM), so we can accurately measure your water hardness and how to fix it.

Frequent Hard Water Effects on Plumbing

Why is it important to know if you have an issue with hard water in your home? Hard water causes minerals to cling to the inside of your pipes, which forms something called limescale.

Limescale accumulation narrows the diameter of your pipes, which can slow water movement and even cause clogs or damage.

The following are examples of the problems caused by limescale buildup can cause in your home’s pipes:

Plumbing Leaks

Hard water scale buildup inside pipes can create rough surfaces. This accelerates corrosion and raises the risk of small leaks. This is a greater concern in older metal plumbing.

Damage to Home Appliances

Mineral limescale buildup in your dishwasher can cause serious issues. It forces these appliances to run less efficiently by coating heating elements and parts with limescale, causing them to fail.

Low Water Pressure

As limescale forms inside pipes, it limits water flow. You may notice signs of reduced water pressure, such as less powerful showers or tubs needing extra time to fill with water.

Soap Scum Build-Up and Hard Water Stains

Another effect of hard water in your plumbing is stubborn soap scum and hard water staining:

  • Soap scum: Develops when soap reacts with calcium and magnesium in hard water to produce insoluble salts. This dull, sticky film doesn’t rinse away.
  • Hard water stains: Created when water evaporates and leaves behind mineral residue. It can appear as chalky buildup near faucets, as well as cloudy marks or streaks in sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can even leave residue on your glassware in the dishwasher. Sometimes hard water stains have rust-colored staining if your water is also high in iron.

Learn How to Protect Your Home from Hard Water with Ohler & Holzhauer Inc.

What can you do about hard water? From initial testing to prevention, Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. provides comprehensive hard water solutions in Port Clinton. We repair existing hard water damage, offering solutions such as descaling pipes and fixtures to remove mineral acculation and flushing appliances to restore water flow.

Our plumbing services also stop additional hard water issues before they start with water softener installation. We also can help you find the best filtration system to remove hard water in your home. Water softeners and filtration solutions reduce limescale in your plumbing, providing soft, mineral-free water.

Stop hard water damage in your plumbing! Contact a local plumber from Ohler & Holzhauer Inc. by calling 419-732-2121 today!