Problem: Hard Water - What Is My Solution?

Hard water problems are the most common of all water treatment problems in the home.
It will likely take some type of special treatment such as a water softener to solve this problem.
The "hardness" originally referred to the ability to precipitate soap and form soap scum.
Soap is precipitated (or brought to the "surface") by water containing high levels of calcium and magnesium.
The "harder" the water the less soap will dissolve.
This is why in some water more suds appear and in other, it is harder to create the bubbles.
Hard Water is a generic term that means ground water has picked up minerals from the earth such as magnesium and chalky calcium.
Water with high levels of calcium can clog pipes with mineral build up left behind as it flows through the pipes.
Warning Signs

• Reduces the ability of soap to lather;
• Minerals form a sticky scum with the soap and prevent easy rinsing of anything being washed;
• Water spots on your dishes and glasses with spots;
• White chalky scale or residue left behind with hardness;

When the hardness exceeds 250 - 300 ppm, a water softener becomes somewhat of a necessity, as piping systems, water heaters, fixtures and appliances become scaled up and worn out prematurely.
Do you know what's in your municipality's water? If not, do you know how to find out? Most municipal treatment facilities are constantly checking for contaminants, bacteria, and other harmful elements but they cannot take responsibility for the materials in plumbing components, and service lines into the home as well.
A problem inevitably found in lots of homes in California in the tap is hard water.
As water flows over rocks and soil, it picks up many naturally occurring elements as they dissolve.
Many minerals end up in it, making it"hard.
" Water Softeners seem to be the best solution to hard water, which in California, seems to be hard to avoid.
Using an ion exchange softener is the most common form of treatment.
Softening involves something called "ion exchange" to remove dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese that can't be trapped in a filter bed.
The softening process is quite simple.
Softeners contain fresh resin beads with sodium attached to the bead and as water enters the tank, dissolved calcium and magnesium are attracted to the resin.
The resin passes up the sodium in exchange for the dissolved chemicals and it is then rid of these impurities.
The soft, treated, conditioned water you get from a softener will make life easier all around your house.
With soft, water you will notice a dramatic difference everywhere you use it.