Hard water simply refers to water that contains minerals. While most of these minerals are removable through various methods such as softening and ionization, some of them are very hard, if not impossible to remove.
Where it is possible to remove the mineral, the hardness is referred to as temporary. Where the minerals cannot be removed, we refer to the water as having permanent hardness.
While consuming hard water is not necessarily dangerous, extended consumption can present you with some risks that range from mechanical to health.
Health Complications
Is the water in your pipes hard?
Upon ingestion, minerals, (carbonates and sulfites) in hard water cause irritation of the airways, which in turn causes a persistent cough. The result of this is that people might develop respiratory complications including asthma, bronchitis, and shortness of breath. This persistent cough can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions for instance asthma where even death is imminent.
The buildup of these minerals on the heart and blood vessels may result in constriction, hence causing heart-related problems such as heart failure. When the mineral deposits occur in the stomach, they may hamper the normal functioning of the digestive enzymes, thereby causing digestive issues. All these can be addressed by boiling the hard water, adding softeners, or installing water purifiers.
Skin Irritation
The mineral deposits, (carbonates and sulfites) block skin pores and thus prevent circulation, which may lead to skin issues such as fungi. Even with effective rinsing and quality soaps, the deposits will still be left on the skin where they result in irritation and itching which later causes redness and possible eczema. This too, can be prevented by treating, softening, boiling your water, or installing a water purifier.
Reduced Appliance Lifespan
Health is not the only aspect you stand to risk by using hard water; there are tons of other unseen mechanical issues. For instance, dishwashers, showerheads, water heaters, and washing machines are at risk of complete failure or reduced lifespan. This happens when the mineral deposits accumulate on critical parts, causing them to operate harder than they ought to. They can also cause corrosion of critical parts, calling for periodic costly repairs and the ultimate breakdown. While softening, treating, and appliance repairs are only temporary, a permanent solution still exists; installing a water purifier for the whole house.
Increased Energy Costs
The buildup of mineral deposits on critical appliance parts results in the equipment operating beyond its designated limits. This therefore means that a lot of electrical power is consumed to run appliances in such conditions. This could be one of the many explanations for skyrocketing monthly energy costs. Furthermore, such appliances are subject to periodic costly repairs and reduced lifespan. The remedy to this situation is to have a water purifier installed for all outlets in the house.
Broken Fixtures
Appliances are not the only items that suffer the dangers of hard water; fixtures take the most beating. Even before the hard water gets to the appliances, it has to go through fixtures such as pipes, taps, and showerheads, among others. The mineral deposits in hard water may corrode and damage fixtures such as taps, hence making you require periodic repairs, which are expensive. If not, the deposit accumulation can block fixtures such as sinks, drains, showerheads, and even taps. Even though water treatment, softening, and boiling may seem like a feasible solution, it may not last you so long before another buildup occurs. The lasting remedy to this is to install a water purifier to serve the entire house.
Streaks and Spots on Cookware
Another eyesore associated with hard water that people might be tempted to overlook is the incessant streaks and spots on cookware and silverware. Even with the best dish soap and cleaning methods, cookware, silverware, and utensils are bound to have some streaks and spots because of hard water minerals. While that may not sound so much of a bother because your conscious is clear, it can be somewhat embarrassing when you have guests coming over. Using hot water and soft dish soaps can salvage this situation as you plan for a permanent solution.
While consuming or using hard water may not be necessarily dangerous, the above are some of the unseen risks that can impact your health or take a toll on your financial muscle. Water softening and boiling are just among the various remedies for hard water dangers, as you lay down plans for a lasting solution, which is the installation of a water purifier for the entire house.
