Quick answer: Hard water is water high in calcium and magnesium. Tell-tale signs: white crusty buildup on faucets and shower heads, spotty dishes, soap that won’t lather, dry skin, and scale inside pipes and the water heater. The fix is a water softener for the whole house, or a shower head filter and regular descaling for a budget approach.
How to spot and fix hard water, from a licensed plumber.
Signs You Have Hard Water
- White/chalky scale on faucets, shower heads, and kettles
- Spots on glasses and dishes
- Soap and shampoo won’t lather well
- Dry skin and dull hair
- Reduced flow from scaled-up shower heads
Why Hard Water Costs You Money
Scale builds up inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances, shortening their life and raising energy bills. A scaled water heater works harder to heat the same water.
How to Fix It
Whole-house: a water softener treats every tap. Budget/targeted: a shower head filter helps skin and hair, and descaling faucets/shower heads with vinegar removes existing buildup. Test first with a pressure gauge since heavy scale can drop your pressure — see our water pressure guide.
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