Why the Water in Our Area Is So Hard on Your Pipes

If you live in the Santa Clarita or San Fernando Valley you already know our water isn’t exactly mountain spring quality. We have some of the hardest water in the country. While it is safe to drink it is absolutely brutal on your plumbing system.

Here is how hard water is quietly damaging your home and what you can do about it.

1. The Crusty White Buildup Have you noticed that white chalky stuff on your showerheads and faucets? That is calcium and magnesium. Over time that buildup clogs the tiny holes in your fixtures which kills your water pressure and eventually ruins the finish on your expensive handles.

2. It Destroys Your Appliances Your dishwasher and washing machine have tiny valves and heating elements that hate hard water. The minerals create a “scale” that coats everything. This makes your appliances work twice as hard to get the water hot which leads to higher energy bills and a much shorter lifespan for your machines.

3. It’s the Enemy of Your Water Heater As we mentioned in our other post sediment is a tank killer. Hard water minerals settle at the bottom of your water heater and turn into a rock hard layer. This acts like a blanket between the burner and the water meaning your heater has to stay on longer just to get you a warm shower.

4. Dry Skin and Dull Hair Hard water doesn’t let soap and shampoo lather properly. Instead of rinsing clean it leaves a thin film of soap scum on your skin and hair. If you feel itchy after a shower or your clothes feel stiff after a wash the hard water is the culprit.

What Can You do?:

• Install a Water Softener: This is the ultimate fix. It removes the minerals before they ever enter your pipes saving your appliances and your skin.
• Whole House Filtration: This cleans the water and removes that chlorine taste and smell along with the minerals.
• Regular Flushing: At the very least you should have your water heater flushed once a year to get rid of the sediment buildup.