What is Hard Water and Why is it a Problem?
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by: PaulJensen | Total views: 156 | Word Count: 471
What is hard water? You You cope with hard water each day
Hard water is any water that has a high amount of dissolved minerals. You can identify hard water as water that makes stubborn stains on your glass and dishes. This is often known as "scale," the accumulation of minerals on the surface of your plumbing and appliances.
Hard water is common. It is in all parts of the world starting from low Parts Per Million (ppm) up to a normal high of 200 ppm. It is not uncommon for water hardness to exceed 800 ppm from public supplies.
Hard water in the US and internationally
Measurements taken in different areas of Australia, Canada, and other nations show that it's not rare to find water hardness in the range of 200 ppm. More than 85% of homes in the USA have hard water. Areas that seem to provide less hard water being in the South Atlantic-Gulf and Pacific Northwest.
Domestic effects of hard water
In the home, hard water creates a considerable number of issues that create more work for the homeowner.
- Soaps and detergents don't mix very well , and become less effective.
- Scale buildup will eventually demand new plumbing and new appliances to reestablish full functionality to these systems.
- Hard water stains will stain and damage water fixtures and will cause glass to become unpleasant.
Those who have some experience with hard water on glass know that cleaning hard water stains is an excercise in frustration. The labor required to scrub and clean windows with hard water stains is backbreaking.
Hard water stains on dishes will ultimately cause your dishes to look grimy even after they've been through the dishwasher. They are going to come out with small pieces of white flakes and will barely look fit for use.
Commercial consequences of hard water
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, in 2005, an approximate 18,200,000,000 gallons each day of water was consumed for business applications. This number constitutes the amount of self-supplied (meaning, the industry supplied its own water versus A public provider) water. A safe assumption is that the majority of that water was either treated for hardness, or ended in a process or counter-measure to the consequences of the hard water used inside that commercial application.
Just as the appliances in your home start to lose efficacy as hard water buildup happens, so do massive business appliances lose effectiveness, and overtime stop functioning altogether.
- Water cooling towers.
- Heat exchangers.
- Mineral extractors.
- Sand mills
These machines are highly costly and the upkeep required due to hard water buildup is expensive. Water cooling towers lose their cooling effectiveness as the cooling fins accumulate hard water scale. Scale buildup is usually a self-perpetuating problem, as it restricts the movement of water, which in turn accelerates the buildup of scale.
About the Author
How to solve your hard water problem ... Since you've answered your question: What is Hard Water??, the most effective way to eliminate hard water scale buildup is thru magnetic water conditioners. Aqua Magnets supply a safe, green way to eliminate and clean existing hard water scale on pipes, appliances, fixtures, and other hardware. Plus, you'll have better-tasting, more clear water, all without using chemicals or elevated levels of sodium into your water supply. Check out Aqua Magnets today for great magnetic water conditioning solutions.
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