Hard water is one of the issues that has been plaguing the modern home for almost as long as residential plumbing has been available. If you have hard water in your home, you most likely will have several questions about to handle this pesky issues. Here are a few questions homeowners have about hard water:

Just what does it mean to have hard water?

The term hard water is not referring to its density, but to the fact that it contains a lot of minerals, such as calcium or magnesium. This is a problem is because the mineral deposits can lead to crusting inside of pipes and plumbing fixtures, make it difficult to get a good lather from your soap, and even leave your skin feeling dry and cracked.

What are the most common indicators of hard water in the home?

Many people notice spots left behind on water fixtures, such as the sink or shower, or dishes after they have been washed. These spots will look like an opaque film, as if the water you used for rinsing was dirty. Many people claim that hard water will compromise the sudsing action of laundry soap or dish detergent--even the shampoo they use in the shower. Hard water can wreak havoc in areas where hot water is used, because the heated minerals will create a stubborn soap scum appearing residue that is difficult to remove.

Is hard water safe for consumption?

Even though hard water may be an annoyance, there is nothing to suggest that consuming this mineral-rich solution is harmful to your health. However, it can affect the taste of your water source.

What does a water softener really do?

If you invest in a water softener for your home, what you really get is a type ion exchanger that will remove the existing minerals of calcium, magnesium, and sometimes iron. The water softener will pull these from the hard water and flush the minerals away to the drain.

Some units use a replacement ion, such as sodium, to provide a continuous chemical structure to the existing water source. A softener can be installed, but you will never really notice that it is present, except for the fact that you no longer have the problems that can be caused by hard water.

If you suspect that you have hard water in your home, it is a good idea to talk to a plumber or water softening contractor for help. Hard water can cause a lot of problems with your plumbing, affect the functional capacity of your hot water heater, and even lead to damaged plumbing components. Try contacting a company like Johnson Water Conditioning with your questions to know more.