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Common water problems

Hard water treatment

Water hardness is a common quality of water which contains dissolved compounds of calcium and magnesium, as well as other elements such as iron. Problems with hard water treatment are typical in most homes but causes damage, discomfort, and extra expense.

Homeowners may not realise the true cost of having hard water, or recognise it as the cause of many everyday problems. In the home, knowing is half the battle. Hard water problems are often the cause of dry skin and hair after bathing, and preventing soap from lathering on your skin. The dissolved minerals are also primarily responsible for the build-up of scale in pipes and water heaters, causing numerous problems in the laundry, kitchen, and bath.

Hard water effects may include spots on glasses and silverware, faded clothing, discolouration in the bathtub and sink, and shorter life of water-using appliances are signs that hard water is impacting your everyday life.

Once you recognise the hard water problems in your home and on your body, and the cost it incurs, you can take action to improve the water entering your home. For more information on our water softeners that aim to eliminate hard water problems, click below.

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Hard Water Problems: Taste and Odour Issues

Hard water problems can be from hard water running through tap

We want the water we use every day to quench our thirst, and make us feel clean and fresh. When our water is foul-smelling or bad-tasting, the satisfaction we get from our water is gone. Here are some common odour and taste problems your water may develop:

  • “Rotten Egg” smell: The taste or smell of sulphur in your water, akin to the smell of rotten eggs, suggests the presence of hydrogen sulphide, which is a colourless and corrosive gas often found in groundwater. It can be caused by bacteria in the water and also cause the water to taste salty. It can also cause damage to pipes and metal parts in appliances in high concentrations.
  • Musty, earthy odours and taste: Such aromas and tastes may be caused by decaying organic matter in the plumbing or the water source itself. This is more common in households supplied from surface water.
  • Chlorine taste and smell: Chlorine is common in municipal water supplies as part of the normal process of treatment, disinfecting and making the water safe to drink. Getting rid of the taste and smell of chlorine can make your water more enjoyable. Getting rid of the chlorine when it enters your house can also protect your skin, hair, clothes, and appliances from the dryness and fading it causes.
  • Metallic taste: Tasting or smelling metals may be a sign of mercury, lead, copper, arsenic, or iron in the water. Manganese and zinc may also cause a metallic smell or taste and may come from ageing or corrosion in your water pipes. 

Hard Water Problems: Cloudiness & Discoloration Issues

Discolouration of water or its cloudy, opaque appearance is most often caused by the level of dissolved solids in your water. This is called turbidity and can be caused by natural disturbances that can increase the amount of small particles in your water. These solids can affect how the water tastes, smells, and performs in your home, as well as how it looks. The turbidity of your water should be checked, even if it appears clear, to determine the best hard water treatment option.

What are the hard water treatment options?

Hard Water Problems: Corrosion Issues

The corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures can be caused by a variety of problems with your water, including problems with hard water. Corrosion of iron or steel is commonly called rusting. A number of factors will accelerate corrosion in your home due to your water quality. 

  • Hard water problems with cloudy glassware and a water pipe with limescale build upAcidity (low pH)
  • High mineral concentrations
  • Stray current electrolysis
  • Galvanic corrosion caused by dissimilar metals
  • Dissolved oxygen content
  • Water temperatures

*This list of causes comes from the Water Quality Association, to view their website and resources click here: www.wqa.org

To reduce the corrosion happening in your pipes, find a distributor near you