If you live in the city of Amarillo, TX, or the surrounding areas, you may experience hard water in your home. Hard water can be unpleasant to wash with and can also cause significant damage to your pipes, appliances, and other fixtures. Learn some valuable tips to help you manage hard water deposits, eliminate hard water buildup, and improve the quality of water in your home with expert water treatment services from Frank’s Plumbing Repair in Amarillo.
What Causes Hard Water Deposits in Amarillo?
Before addressing your hard water problems, it’s important to understand what causes these deposits in the first place. This breakdown explains what causes hard water deposits in Amarillo:
- Most hard water buildup is caused by high concentrations of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
- Hard water minerals are typically found in limestone and other rocks that dissolve into groundwater, eventually entering the water supply.
- Once the water evaporates from sinks, showers, and faucets, it leaves behind the dissolved minerals, causing buildup.
- As the minerals harden and accumulate in these areas, they form hard water deposits.
- Warm water evaporates much faster than cold water, resulting in more severe buildup.
- The longer you use hard water, the more your fixtures and pipes are exposed to it, allowing more minerals to settle and build up in these areas over time. This may lead to damaged pipes and other issues.
Signs You Have Hard Water Problems in Your Home
How do you know if you have hard water problems in your home? Look for these signs that indicate that you’re dealing with a hard water issue:
- Visible buildup: White or chalky-looking deposits around your showerheads, faucets, and other fixtures are a telltale sign of mineral buildup due to hard water in your pipes.
- Excess soap scum: If you notice a lot of soap scum on your shower doors, tub fixtures, and other areas, it’s likely due to hard water.
- Dryness: Dry, itchy skin or extremely dry hair could be due to hard water, since it’s more difficult to rinse soap and shampoo away.
- Low lather: Your soap may not lather as well if you have hard water.
- Spots or clouds on dishes: If you notice spotty dishes or cloudiness on glassware that won’t go away even after washing them thoroughly, it’s probably residue left behind from the hard water mineral deposits.
- Low water pressure: Too much mineral buildup in your pipes can interfere with water flow and cause low pressure.
- Laundry issues: Hard water may cause your laundry to feel stiff, fade easily, and look dull.
- Appliance issues: Scale can build up quickly inside your water heater, dishwasher, and washing machine, shortening the lifespan of these appliances and affecting performance.
- Drinking water issues: In some cases, you may notice an unpleasant metallic or rotten egg smell or odor in your drinking water, a common issue related to hard water.
- High energy bills: Excessive scale buildup in your water heater forces it to work harder, resulting in higher energy bills.
How To Get Rid of Hard Water Buildup
Getting rid of hard water deposits takes diligence and some know-how. Here are some tips to show you how to get rid of hard water buildup in your home.
Soak items in vinegar
White vinegar can help to remove hard water deposits. Soak the affected areas in vinegar for 15 to 20 minutes to loosen the deposits, then gently scrub them away using a soft-bristled brush or sponge before rinsing the item clean. You can also submerge your showerheads in a bag filled with white vinegar and wrap your faucets in a paper towel soaked in vinegar.
Try baking soda
If you want to know how to remove hard water buildup from fixtures and other items without vinegar, try making a baking soda paste. Mix a small amount of baking soda with water until it forms a paste. Next, apply the paste directly to the affected areas and gently scrub it using a small brush or sponge. Rinse it clean.
Use some toothpaste
Believe it or not, toothpaste can also do a good job of removing some hard water buildup. Apply a small dab of fluoride toothpaste to the area with buildup, and brush it thoroughly for about one minute. Once you’re done, let the toothpaste sit for around five to 10 minutes, then wash the item with cold water and dry it with a clean, soft towel.
Apply a commercial cleaner
If using vinegar, baking soda, or toothpaste to remove mineral buildup isn’t for you, there are some commercial cleaning products available. Look for products formulated to remove calcium, lime, and rust. You can find these items at most hardware stores or big-box retailers. When applying the cleaner, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Long-Term Hard Water Solutions for Amarillo Homeowners
While the methods mentioned above can help you remove hard water deposits, they don’t provide long-term solutions. Here are some of the best ways to deal with hard water for Amarillo area homeowners.
Try a water conditioner
Anti-scale water conditioners use a low-frequency signal that pulses several thousand times per second through your home’s plumbing system. This signal reverses the charge on minerals dissolved in your water, causing them to remain in suspension instead of entering your water supply when the water is heated or the pressure increases. This process forces the minerals to pass through your system and down the drain without affecting water quality. Water conditioners protect your plumbing and appliances and also help remove existing scale buildup.
Install a water softener
A whole-home water softener is one of the most effective ways to deal with hard water in the long term. When you install a water softener, it removes minerals like calcium and magnesium via ion exchange and replaces them with sodium or potassium. This system helps eliminate limescale, enhances your water’s cleaning capabilities, and improves the quality and taste of your drinking water. Using a water softener also protects your pipes, fixtures, and appliances from excess scale and mineral buildup.
Schedule routine maintenance
Regular preventive maintenance is another smart way to deal with hard water in your home. Schedule an annual plumbing inspection or get a seasonal inspection (twice a year) to look for signs of excess mineral buildup. Regular maintenance allows issues to be addressed early before they become a significant problem, such as a burst pipe or a broken appliance. Maintenance should also include descaling your appliances every three to six months to keep them from becoming impacted by hard water buildup.
Contact Frank’s for Hard Water Treatment Services in Amarillo
If you have hard water in your Amarillo home, Frank’s Plumbing Repair is available to help by installing water conditioners, water filtration systems, water softeners, and other water treatment options. We also offer professional plumbing repairs if your pipes are affected by hard water buildup. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a service.
