Hard Water & What To Do About It
If your pump is making unusual sounds, turning off and on, or sputtering at the tap, your water well pump may be failing. There can be a few reasons why your well pump may not be working and not all of them require a well pump replacement. Check out these five reasons why your well pump may not be working from our water well company and call North Florida Water Systems Inc to schedule an appointment today!
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is water with a high mineral content, specifically magnesium and calcium, though it may include other trace minerals, such as iron. Well water becomes hard when it comes into contact with rocks, such as limestone and gypsum, underground. It can also pick up minerals from deposits of nearby lakes, rivers, and old plumbing. The minerals then mix into the water, creating hard water. While calcium, magnesium, and iron are an important part of a balanced diet, hard water isn’t great for your plumbing, appliances, or even your skin and hair. Additionally, hard water may contain harmful bacteria or chemicals, and the buildup of minerals in your plumbing may encourage the growth of bacteria.
Signs Of Hard Water
Knowing how to tell if you have hard water is essential for getting the right treatment for your plumbing issue. If you’ve noticed multiple of the following hard water signs, it’s important to call a well water professional before the mineral buildup starts costing you money.
- Water tastes or smells funny. This is caused by the minerals and will taste or smell differently depending on what’s in your water.
- Brown or reddish stains. If you’re noticing stains that look like rust in your toilet, it’s probably caused by an excess of iron in the water.
- White spots on faucets, sinks, dishes, & dishwasher. Chalky white residue or spots are caused by water drying and leaving behind traces of calcium.
- Washed clothes are rough and look dull. Washing your clothes and linens in hard water leaves behind minerals that alters the way clothes look, feel, and even smell.
- Scale buildup on faucets. If it looks like your faucets are eroding or growing crusty, it’s probably caused by long-term exposure to minerals.
- Low water pressure. Scale buildup also occurs in the pipes where you can’t see it, causing low water pressure and clogs, and promoting the growth of bacteria.
- Appliances breaking down. Over time, scale buildup can reduce the efficiency of your appliances and eventually cause them to break down. This can even affect your well pump and require well pump repairs.
- Dry skin and flat hair. Hard water doesn’t fully wash away soaps while also leaving bits of minerals on your skin and scalp, resulting in dry and itchy skin and lackluster hair.
Hard Water Treatment
Hard water doesn’t mean you need new well drilling to have safe and clean water. If you have a water well, we always suggest having your water tested and treated. Testing your water can give you extensive insight into what’s in your water, including minerals and bacteria, and can provide you with accurate information to properly treat it. A water softener can remove minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, before it even enters your home’s plumbing. There are also additional water treatment options for the highest quality water, including reverse osmosis. Contact our professional well company today to see what we can do for your well water!