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How to Get Rid of Hard Water

  • How to Get Rid of Hard Water

    How to Get Rid of Hard Water

    We often hear the term ‘hard water’, but a lot of people don’t fully understand what that means. The phrase is often associated with a problem, or that having hard water is bad, it could/does cause problems. And while these things are true, as a homeowner it can be helpful to understand what exactly hard water is, and what this means for you and your home.

    What is hard water?

    Hard water is water that has a very high mineral content. This means that ‘soft water’ is the exact opposite, water that has a very low mineral content. This happens when water passes through deposits of limestone or chalk, which contain high amounts of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Why is this bad? While hard water isn’t necessarily a health hazard, or dangerous to consume, it doesn’t taste good. It also causes mineral buildup on appliances, and on your body and hair when you shower. Because of this mineral buildup, eventually it can cause issues with your water heater. Investing in a water softener can make cleaning your appliances and dishes easier, but it will also keep your water heater from unnecessary mineral buildup.

    Does Utah have hard water?

    The quick answer, is yes. Utah has very hard water, statewide. However, there are certain cities that have significantly harder water. Salt Lake City is noted to have very hard water, which is classified as having over 14 gpg. This means grains per gallon, which is a way of measuring how much calcium carbonate is in a gallon of water. There are specific cities throughout Utah that have the hardest water in the state. Some of these cities with the hardest water include Herriman, Riverton, Bountiful, and Magna.

    Getting rid of hard water

    The easiest way to lower your hard water levels in your home, is by installing a water softener. Water softening is the act of removing those minerals we don’t want from the water. Having soft water will be much gentler on your plumbing(meaning it won’t need to be replaced as soon), as well as leaving you with cleaner dishes and hair. Many water softeners remove the minerals by making the water through salt. There are also electronic options, that affect the interactions of the minerals in the water, making it so they can’t bind to the water. There are a few different options, but they’re not a hassle to maintain, and you’ll feel the difference almost immediately after getting one installed.