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Hard Water, What is it? And do I have it?

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Melbourne Plumber

Hard water is a topic that many people know little about. We often get asked about what hard water is. And people want to know how it can hurt them. The natural follow-up question is how they can fix it.

People with sensitive skin will often recognize hard water right away. They can feel it on their skin. It can feel abrasive and leave their skin dry and irritated. People with less sensitive skin can take a shower in hard water and not even know it. But the damage hard water can cause does not stop at the surface level. 

Hard water is an excess of minerals in the water. High levels of calcium and magnesium can actually be bad for the human body when consumed. According to several studies, long-term ingestion of hard water can raise blood pressure and cause cardiovascular disease. Hard water consumption can also raise your risk of several types of cancer and affect your reproduction capabilities. So, yeah, it is more serious than people tend to think.

How do you know if you have it?

There is a simple test you can do at home with a clear container and soap. I think this article does a much better job of explaining it than I possibly could:

Click hyperlink Testing your water for hardness

How to Get Rid of Hard Water

There are a myriad of hard water treatments and systems on the market. The one you choose should be the best solution for your set up.  For instance, if you are on well water, there are some very good water softener systems you can buy specifically geared toward well water homes.

It is a good idea to get a professional to look at what you have and recommend a system to use.