Use the Google query “Is my water hard or soft?”until 180% Over the past 30 days, we’ve helped you learn more about water quality in your home.
We’ll look at what “hard water” means and its effects, and how to test and improve the water quality of your showers and faucets.
What is hard water?
Rainwater is soft and hardens when it touches the ground.
Hard water usually falls on porous rocks such as limestone and seeps into the ground, collecting particles and minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This can affect both your body and your bathroom, from dry skin to limescale buildup.
How do you check hard water?
There are some easy ways to test and check water quality at home.
Hard water is measured in parts per million (PPM), with anything above 151 PPM classified as moderately hard and anything above 350 PPM as very hard.
To learn more about water in your area, see the three test methods below.
1 – Perform postal code check
Contact with the ground creates hard water, so when it comes to figuring out water quality, start with a zip code area check.
We have a lot online zip code checker It provides a water quality breakdown, explains how hard or soft the water is, tracks the substances it contains, and shows how it compares to UK standards.
In some large parts of the UK it is commonly known that water is either hard or soft, so using a local water supplier postcode checker will give you more accurate insight.
2 – Do a visual test
Another easy way to check for signs of hard water is to assess the appearance of hard water.
Take a clear water bottle and fill it about 1/3 full. Add a few drops of pure liquid soap and shake the bottle for about 5 seconds.
If you can’t see the fluffy bubbles and the water looks cloudy or opaque, the water may be hard.
Once this is established, a final test method can be run to know exactly which measurement bracket the water is in.
3 – Use water hardness strips
The final way to test is with some water hardness strips.
very accessible, Orderable Available in bulk at low cost online, hardness strips offer a fast and accurate solution for understanding water quality.
For true expression, the strips should only be used with unfiltered water.
Dip the test strip in cold water for a few seconds, place it on a flat surface and wait for the color to change.
The test kit includes a color chart so you can compare your sticks.
How to soften water?
Luckily, there are several ways to soften water.
First, if the bathroom is your main purpose, choose a shower head with a built-in hard water filter.
These soften the water as it passes through the mechanism before leaving it, reducing the effects of hard water such as dry skin and limescale that builds up around the showerhead and handle.
Or, for a long-term, whole-home solution, invest in a water softener system.
Mineral tanks act as chambers where water seeps through a floor of resin beads, depositing calcium and magnesium ions that harden the water before exiting through pipes to all the room’s appliances.
Prior to joining the Big Bathroom Shop team, John trained in journalism. His exceptional journalism skills enable him to scrutinize bathroom topics closely and provide the latest news and views on all things bath and shower related. Dab!
