You may or may not know it, but the water in St. Charles, Illinois is absolutely inundated with calcium and magnesium. Unfortunately, together, these two minerals serve to make St. Charles’s water hard.
As such, many St. Charles residents opt to make use of water conditioning devices known as water softeners. These devices remove calcium and magnesium from water, rendering it “soft”. Wondering why you should utilize one of these devices? Read below to find out!
Hard Water Has a Negative Effect on the Body
The first reason why you should do away with hard water is that it has a negative effect on your body. These negative effects include:
Dries Out Hair
One of the ways in which hard water affects the body is by drying out hair. The calcium and magnesium particles contained within the water cling to the hair, eliminating its shine and rendering it brittle. As such, those who wash their hair with hard water are prone to hair breakage, split ends, color fading, and a variety of other problems.
Irritates Skin
Not only do calcium and magnesium stick to the hair, but to the skin as well. Unfortunately, when they do so, they clog pores, preventing the secretion of vital body oils.
The result of this? Dryness and irritation. In fact, in some cases, hard water will even spur on acne or eczema.
Hard Water Has a Range of Functional Issues
Not only does hard water affect the human body. It has a range of functional issues as well. We’ll discuss the most pressing of these issues below.
Causes Mineral Buildup
As hard water runs through water pipes, the calcium and magnesium contained within it tend to cling to the pipes’ interior walls. Over time, this can lead to mineral buildup, restricting the pipe and resulting in reduced water pressure.
In some cases, the buildup becomes so extreme that it cuts off waterflow entirely. When this point arrives, the pipe has to be replaced.
Puts Wear and Tear on Appliances
Just as calcium and magnesium build up on the interior walls of water pipes, they also build up on the inner mechanisms of appliances. These appliances include everything from dishwashers, to refrigerators, to washing machines, and more.
The problem with this? Over time, this buildup can cause wear and tear. Not to mention, it can drastically reduce operational efficiency. Therefore, not only can hard water cause your appliances to break down prematurely, but it can also result in undue energy expenditure.
Limits Soap Suds
In order for soap suds to form, the elements in water must react with the elements in soap. Unfortunately, calcium and magnesium can restrict this reaction, resulting in fewer soap suds than would normally arise.
This is why, if you want the most suds possible, you should remove the calcium and magnesium from your water by installing a water softener.
Hard Water Causes Cosmetic Issues
While not as aesthetically damaging as iron or manganese, calcium and magnesium can cause cosmetic issues. These issues present themselves in a very specific way: limescale buildup.
Limescale is essentially a pile of evaporated calcium and magnesium particles. When hard water dries up on sinks or shower heads, these piles of calcium and magnesium are left behind, appearing as a white, chalky substance.
Though limescale can be easily wiped away, it does add to your cleaning workload. If not wiped away at all, it can drastically affect the aesthetics of your kitchen or bathroom.
Looking for a Water Softening Company in St. Charles, Illinois
Are you interested in installing a water softener? Looking for a water softening company in St. Charles, Illinois? DuPage Water Conditioning has you covered.
Our team has installed water softeners in a number of St. Charles area homes. Regardless of the size of your water supply, we can accommodate you.
Contact us now to discuss your water softening needs!