How to Check for Hard Water

Hard water tests

If a home has hard water they are referring to water that is high in calcium and magnesium ions. This will leave the scale behind on the pipes and will even leave this scale behind on the dishes. People even get dry skin and damaged hair due to the hard water. There are some ways that a homeowner can test their water to determine if their home has hard water.

Quick and Easy Test

This test will help you test for hard water and it will only take a couple of minutes. You will need to use a clear bottle that can hold at least 12 ounces of water. Once they have the bottle picked out they should fill it up with the tap water. You will then add 10 drops of liquid soap to the water. Dishwashing detergents should not be used as they do not have a strong interaction with hard water. Once the liquid soap is added you will need to wait a few minutes to see the results. You can shake up the bottle for a couple of seconds. If the bottle does not have a lid it should be stirred to allow the soap to mix into the water. The cap should then be removed. If suds are forming at the top of the bottle the water is likely soft. If there are not too many suds or bubbles further examination is needed. You will then add five to ten drops of soap at a time. You should shake the bottle each time. If it takes 20 drops to form suds then the water is hard, 30 drops the water is somewhat hard, and if it takes 40 drops for suds to form than you have hard water. If the water becomes cloudy this is another sign that it is hard.

Strip tests

Many plumbing supply stores sell a test that will allow you soak the testing strip in water. Soaking the strip in the water will provide more accurate results than just running water over the strip. After a few minutes, the strip should change colors and should be compared to the color chart as described in the strip test kit.

White Scale

If there are white minerals on the sink or the bathtub than the home has hard water. The white that is left behind is the minerals from the water. If this is not fixed the minerals will build upon the pipes and will clog them.

Check the Glasses

If the home hard water there will be white spots left behind on glasses even if they were just washed. Hard water can cause spots and it can also be able to cause etching. These marks will permanently damage the glass.

These are some ways that you can test their water to determine if you have hard water. A plumber can perform a test for hard water and show you the level of hardness and the mineral content that is in their water. Hard water can lead to several plumbing issues and you should call a professional plumber to discuss what can be done about your hard water.

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