One of the most common water-related problems is having an excess amount of calcium and magnesium. Together, these two minerals serve to make water hard, giving it a number of undesirable traits in the process.

Wondering whether your water is hard? Not sure how to tell? This Joliet water softening company is here to explain. Below, we’re going to reveal some of the most common signs of hard water.

Signs of Hard Water

Determining whether you have hard water is generally a fairly easy task. In most cases, all you have to do is look out for the following signs.

Limescale Buildup

One of the most noticeable signs that you have hard water is that you get limescale buildup on your metal sinks, faucets, and shower heads. This limescale is essentially just dried up piles of calcium and magnesium — the same calcium and magnesium that also exist in your water.

Now, you might be wondering: what does limescale buildup look like? It’s white and powdery, and it can be rubbed off with your hands. In a sense, it’s almost like a thin layer of chalk.

While limescale buildup in and of itself isn’t particularly harmful, it can hurt the aesthetics of your metal water appliances. Plus, it’s a sure sign that you have hard water running through your pipes (something that can be harmful).

If you just want to get rid of limescale temporarily, a wet paper towel will allow you to wipe it away. However, if you want to get rid of hard water as well (while getting rid of limescale permanently), you’ll want to install a water softener.

Dry Skin

The calcium and magnesium particles in hard water not only build up on metal sinks and faucets, but they can build up on the skin as well.

Unfortunately, when they build up on the skin, they become far more than just aesthetic detriments. They have negative functional effects as well.

In particular, calcium and magnesium can cause the skin to become dry. Why do they do this? Because they clog up the skin pores, preventing them from secreting important oils. In severe cases, calcium and magnesium can even cause the skin to develop acne and/or eczema.

Is your skin particularly dry? If so, a water softener might be just what you need. It will remove all of the calcium and magnesium from your water, ensuring that it can’t harm your skin.

Brittle Hair

Just as calcium and magnesium cling to the skin, they also cling to the hair. As you might expect, the results tend to be the same. Namely, the hair becomes dry and brittle, suffering in terms of its looks and its overall health.

This, in turn, can lead to broken hair, split ends, and other miscellaneous problems for those who wash their hair with hard water.

There’s only one solution to this problem, which is to install a water softener. A water softener will remove all of the calcium and magnesium from your water, allowing your hair to remain soft and healthy.

Are you Looking to Install a Water Softener in Joliet?

Is your water displaying signs of hardness? Are you looking to install a water softener in Joliet, Illinois? if so, the experts at Johnson Water Conditioning are here to help.

We’ve installed thousands of water softeners throughout Joliet and its surrounding areas, helping homeowners avoid the effects of hard water. Regardless of the size of your water supply, we can do the same for your home.

Contact us today to get the process started!