Water is a great solvent and conduit for minerals. It breaks down calcium and magnesium deposits in the rocks and carries these fine particles to your home’s water supply. Water “hardness” has to do with the amount of dissolved minerals in the water, specifically calcium and magnesium.
Water hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm) based on the levels of calcium and magnesium found in the water and is classified as:
- Soft
- Slightly Hard
- Moderately Hard
- Hard
- Very Hard
Whether it comes from bedrock wells or a municipal water supply, water in New Hampshire generally falls in the “moderately hard” to “very hard” range. We have found the same is true when we have done water testing in Massachusetts and Maine.
Hard water is hard on your plumbing. Hard water is not harmful to your health, but it is destructive to the plumbing, fixtures and appliances in your home. Hard water damage is cumulative – it contributes to a buildup of scale in your pipes and fixtures that restricts the flow of water. Restricted flow means more scale buildup.
The longer a hard water condition exists, the greater the risk of costly plumbing repairs and replacement of fixtures and appliances.
Hard water makes cleaning hard. Mineral deposits stick to surfaces and can only be removed with harsh chemicals. Shampoos and soaps do not rinse easily in hard water, leaving soap residue deposits on your skin after showering. You may think of it as “squeaky clean,” but the reality is that soap is sticking to your body. Glasses come out of the dishwasher with spots; laundry boosters must be added to effectively clean clothes.
Hard water is hard on your wallet. As you can imagine, there is a cost associated with replacing appliances and fixtures before their time, plumbing and heating repairs, and increased energy usage trying to force water through restricted pipes. Clothing washed in hard water lasts half as long; more money is spent on detergents trying to get clothes and dishes clean.
Win the battle with a water softener from Absolute Water! Our water softening system is an inexpensive way to win the battle against hard water. Calcium and magnesium is trapped in an ionic filter that is periodically back-washed with sodium chloride as the filter gets full. The result is clean water that is makes your soaps and detergents effective and rinse clean. Your appliances last 30% longer and you will use 25% less energy. When you think about it, having Absolute Water System install a water softening system in your home makes good financial sense!
