What is hard water?
Hard water is probably the most common water problem found in the home. Hard water spots your glasses and dishes, makes laundry dull, and causes soap scum and scale to build-up, making cleaning a chore. Calcium and Magnesium, the most common minerals that cause hardness, are dissolved in a water supply.
Eighty-five percent of the United States has water that is hard enough to require softening. The chemistry of hard water is not complicated, it is simply an abundance of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) – often called “hardness minerals” – dissolved in water. In contrast rainfall is naturally soft water but it does not stay soft for long; as the rain falls on the earth it seeps through soil and rock which is loaded with hardness minerals. The rainwater soon turns from soft to hard. The level of hardness depends on the make-up of the rock in your water catchment area. All rock minerals have an electrical charge, both the hardness minerals Ca and Mg are positively charged, this an important part in understanding how a water softener works.
Water described as “hard” is high in dissolved minerals, specifically calcium, magnesium, and iron. Hard water is a nuisance because of mineral buildup on fixtures, plumbing, appliances, and poor soap and detergent performance. It also contributes to skin and hair problems as well as. If your dishes come out of the dishwasher with a white film; if it takes more then a damp cloth to clean your glass shower doors; if your colored laundry comes out “dull” and whites are a bit gray; if you need products like “Lime-A-Way” then you are literally paying the price for hard water. Santa Barbara has some of the hardest water in the country. Large amounts of magnesium, calcium, and iron can really be detrimental to you plumbing, fixtures, skin, hair, dishes, and clothes in the long run. Water hardness is classified by the U.S.
Hard water is generally defined as having more than 1 GPG (grains per gallon) of dissolved minerals in it (usually calcium, magnesium carbonate, and/or manganese). There is some argument as to what is an “acceptable” level of hardness. It is a relative term. This judgment ranges from a conservative “Soft water = 0 to 5 gpg; Moderately hard water = 5 to 10 gpg; Hard = 10 to 20 gpg; Very hard = 20+ gpg. “Hard” water is also a relative term and that only you can “know” if the level that you have is too hard. For example, if you intend to use Ultra Violet Sterilization, then any water harder than 5 gpg should be treated. Don’t be “sold” by a pushy/aggressive salesperson who tells you that you can’t live without a water softener. Most people can. We will recommend a Water Softener when the hardness is 6 grains per gallon or more. At 6 grains of Hardness or above most people can really experience the benefits of soft water. Some who are accustomed to soft water that move to a new area that h
