Your Water
Clean drinking water is important for everyone. Whether you live in Madagascar or Massachusetts, you depend on a safe source of water without contaminants that could make you sick. Water supplies are necessary for every home. Understanding more about your water supply and how to detect any problems before they affect your home and health are important.
This quick checklist can help identify any signs your water may have a problem.
Do you have Problem Water?
Testing meters and gauges will give you specific results, but there are some signs you can use to check your water quality at home. You might have a problem if you answer yes to any of these questions.
- Does the water taste bad? Tap water should not have a strong taste.
- Does your water leave white rings or spots? Check the sinks and washing machines.
- Does it leave orange stains? This should be easily visible on white porcelain like a bathtub or toilet.
- Does it smell like rotten eggs? Or just bad in general?
- Does it smell of strong Chlorine? Think of your community pool.
Answering yes to any of the questions above may indicate that you have hard water.
Hard Water
Hard Water contains dissolved solids of Calcium and Magnesium along with other trace elements. Soap won’t easily lather in hard water, which means that you’ll have to give up that bubble bath and your clothes may not get clean in the wash either. Pipes and hot water heaters will experience scaling from the minerals in hard water. You can see evidence of scaling in white or mineralized residues left behind after your water drains. These minerals can cause problems with laundry, in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
Professionals can test your water to tell how severe the problem is. The more grains and particulates found in the water, the “harder” it will be.
How Hard is Your Water?
The government classifies water hardness as follows (measured in grains per gallon):
- Soft Water: less than 1.0
- Slightly Hard Water: 1.0 – 3.5
- Moderately Hard Water: 3.5 – 7.0
- Hard Water: 7.0 – 10.5
- Very Hard Water: more than 10.5
While lesser levels of particulates may not need treatment, hard water should be treated for the health of your home, business, and family. In addition to hard water, your water system may contain additional contaminants, including chemicals.
Additional Contaminants that May Cause Water Problems
Water Boys Systems can test for 22 different water contaminants. Some of the most common contaminants include:
- Chlorine – Widely used in the disinfecting city water, Chlorine is also an oxidizing agent. Chemically, that means that Chlorine affects the electrons of a compound, like organic matter, manganese, iron, and hydrogen sulfide. In simpler terms, Chlorine acts as a sanitizer or water cleaning agent. Much like spending extended time in a swimming pool, chlorinated water can add unpleasant tastes and odors as well as make your skin feel dry.
- Iron – A common element found in groundwater is better known for its use in construction and manufacturing. It is a household nuisance because of the staining of laundry and plumbing fixtures.
- Hydrogen Sulfide – A corrosive gas found dissolved in groundwater, it creates a rotten egg odor that is very offensive and is noticeable at even the lowest levels.
Still, don’t know if you have hard water?
Contact us for a Free In-Home Water Analysis.
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