Why Hard Water is Bad for Your Drains

Whether you obtain your water from your local municipality or have well water, you know that Ohio is notorious for hard water. If you have ever noticed a white crusty collection around your showerhead or faucet, that is a signal of water that contains high amounts of minerals, such as magnesium, lime, and calcium. It is typically not bad for your health, but it can cause issues with your pipes and drains.

What to Look For

Residue left over after cleaning is one sign of hard water. This can include dingy laundry or your clothes feeling “rough” and itchy to chalky-looking spots on dishes and glasses, to film covering your bathtub and shower. Another sign is stained porcelain on sinks and bathtubs.

Another sign is decreased water pressure in showers and sinks. This is due to a build-up of mineral deposits that constrict the flow of water.

Build-Up = Breakdown

As above, the build-up of magnesium, lime, calcium, etc. clings to the sides of pipes and fixtures, eventually clogging the shower or faucet head and makes layers of deposits inside the drains. Add food, hair, soap, grease and other things down the drain and you have one huge issue, which may result in snaking the drain or calling a professional plumber. Showers and bathtubs tend to be most at risk due to the amount of hair and soap that just build-up on their own.

Solutions

Some ways to get the calcium and magnesium in your water include the installation of water filtration systems or water softeners under a sink or via a whole house system to remove these minerals. In addition, many of these options can save you hundreds of dollars on bottled water, daily wear and tear and long-term replacement.