5 Signs You Have Hard Water, According To Experts

Ashlyn Needham
·8 min read

No, those white spots on your dishes aren't from your cleaning mishap.

Is residue on cleaned dishes, dry skin and hair, and color-faded towels raising your eyebrows? These unsightly indicators are enough to suspect that you’re dealing with hard water in your home. While hard water is deemed safe to drink, there are negative effects it can have on your appliances, plumbing system, and body from the elevated mineral levels.

Knowing the signs of hard water is vitally important to keep your health in check and home functioning properly. Though some repercussions of hard water such as dry skin and color-fading towels aren't costly, broken appliances and plumbing issues are. We spoke to four experts to better understand the cause of hard water and how to keep mineral levels regulated in your home's water system. The good news? DIY solutions are available to regulate the mineral content.



Meet the Experts



What Is Hard Water?

Hard water refers to elevated levels of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in your home's water supply. Hard water occurs naturally in the hydrologic cycle as these minerals are found in underground rocks that are dissolved into the water through erosion.

Homes that operate on well water systems tend to see hard water issues more than homes that run on city water. This is because water treatments for well systems are not as strong as municipal systems. "Most wells have a simple filtration system that just gets mud, sand, and other stuff out," says Mark Maser, a former Science teacher of 30 years from North Carolina. "Well water systems won't get dissolved minerals and particles out like municipal water does."

But, that doesn't mean municipal water is fully exempt from experiencing hard water at times. Some areas in the country experience higher levels of hard water based on the rock layers their water runs through. "Roughly 80% of U.S. water supplies are hard water," says Paul Abrams of Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. "The local water source usually flows through underground limestone, gypsum, and/or chalk, which all contain minerals that contribute to hard water."

Rocks such as limestone are a major common source for hard water as erosion occurs. When groundwater runs through this rock, calcium and magnesium are dissolved into the water that makes its way through your treatment system before coming out your taps or faucets.

Effects Of Hard Water

As we mentioned earlier, hard water is safe to drink, but that doesn't mean you won't see negative effects elsewhere in your home. Here are some drawbacks to having hard water in your current supply.

Hair, Skin, & Kidney Health

With the elevated levels of minerals, hard water strips your hair and skin of any moisture to cause stiff stands and dried-out skin. But, that's not all. According to Rhianna Jones, a registered nurse at Canxida, your kidneys can also be susceptible to damage from hard water as prolonged consumption can lead to kidney dysfunction. "It's essential for individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions to monitor their water quality, including hardness, as part of their overall kidney health management," she says. "Maintaining optimal water quality can be a supportive measure for those with kidney concerns."

Plumbing & Appliance Systems

The most detrimental effect of hard water is the potential damage it can do to your plumbing and appliance systems. "Water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers will wear out faster in homes with hard water," Abrams says. "Scale buildup reduces the efficiency of these appliances and eventually destroys them from the inside out."

For your plumbing, hard water will lead to clogged drains and pipes since it causes soap scum to harden and curdle, resulting in lower water pressure. These clogged pipes can form bigger problems such as leaks and drips that snowball into mold growth in your walls.

Soap Scum Buildup

Similarly, because the elevated minerals will not react properly to cleaners, hard water is prone to causing soap scum in your showers and sinks. Because the minerals won't allow soap to break down properly, it creates an unsightly insoluble material, a.k.a. soap scum. Not only does this white, scaly layer cause your home to look dirty, Maser says it can lead to bigger issues. "Being insoluble, soap scum is tougher to break down and can cause clogging of drains."

Signs You Have Hard Water

Effects of hard water can also be interpreted as signs. But, there are other signs to look out for that quickly indicate your home is dealing with hard water.

Dish Residue

If you've noticed white residue on your dishes or shower enclosure, rest assured that it's not from improper cleaning. "Hard water leaves a white scale on glass shower enclosures, and dishes. It is especially noticeable when it causes a foggy appearance on drinking glasses," says Abrams. "Furthermore, hard water makes soaps and detergents less effective, requiring more of detergent to get laundry clean."



Tip

To get rid of residue from hard water on your shower enclosures or dishes, spray a mixture of white vinegar and distilled water on the surfaces. Let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing with a gentle pad to remove the stain.



Faded Laundry

Speaking of less effective detergents, Maser says hard water will cause your laundry detergent to not react properly, leaving items such as towels, sheets, or clothing without their vibrant colors. "Normally, when water reacts to soap, it gets sudsy, which is the proper interaction to break down grease or do the cleaning. When these minerals get in the way, the soap won't react as it should and will cause vibrant colors to become dingy over time."

Difficulty Lathering Soap

One of the easiest to spot is difficulty lathering soap. With the extra mineral content in your water, soap suds will likely not be present. It will also be difficult to lather shampoo when you shower.

Increased Energy Bills

Another sign to watch for hard water is increased energy bills. According to Abrams, hard water increases energy bills since it forces appliances to work harder to compensate for the hard water scale buildup inside the appliances and their water connections. Similarly, Kelly Salas of Sierra Vista Maintenance says that a water heater can consume more energy to heat water if it's struggling against mineral deposits, which leads to increased energy bills.

Buildup on Faucets

Calcium buildup, also called limescale, on your faucets is another eye-catching indicator your home has hard water. As the mineral-heavy water passes through your faucets, the dissolved calcium salts sit along the faucet to form a white coating.

Testing For Hard Water

If you suspect you may have hard water in your home, you can know for sure with the help of an at-home test kit. All of our experts noted that DIY testing kits are available at hardware or retail stores and are inexpensive, costing between $10-$30. These kits are easy to use with strips to dip in water collected from your tap that will indicate how hard the water is based on the kit's scale.

Or, you can try a pure DIY method at home with the help of a plastic bottle with cap, liquid soap, and water. Start by filling the clean bottle a third of the way with water from one of your faucets. Next, pour in a few drops of pure liquid soap before twisting on the bottle's cap then shake the bottle for a few seconds. If you do not see any bubbles but see a cloudy or milky mixture instead, your home has hard water.

Although, you can always call your nearest plumber if you'd like the test to be completed by a professional.

Solutions For Hard Water

Luckily, if your home tests positive for hard water, there are options to regulate the mineral levels to make your water soft. Water softener systems are available at local hardware stores and will work instantly to turn your hard water soft. "Water softening systems are a godsend," says Salas. "They replace hard minerals with sodium ions, prevent buildups, and facilitate cleaning, which is essential for maintaining a home’s value and functionality."

Other than salt-based water softeners that work with ion exchange, Abrams says another available option is a whole house treatment. "These treatments soften water by forcing water through several stages of filtration. All types of softeners are installed close to where the main water supply pipe enters your house." He also notes that special plumbing is needed for this type of set-up so it will need to be done by a professional plumber. But the good news is that these systems are easy to maintain by only adding salt a few times a year and changing filters.

And, speaking of maintenance, maintaining the soft water quality is key to preventing hard water from recurring. Salas recommends regularly flushing out systems and being vigilant about spotting hard water signs. "If someone notices persistent issues or equipment failure due to scaling, it's time to consult a professional."

If you're using a salt-based water softener, always remember to check your salt levels and pay attention to residue on your dishes or soap lathering to spot signs hard water is making a reappearance.

Related: Should You Wash Bedding In Hot Water?

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