Managing your home's hard water issues

In many rural areas of Australia, homes rely on groundwater which tends to be 'hard' water. Hard water has a high mineral content and can end up building up in taps and plumbing fittings as well as potentially wearing out soft fittings such as rubber washers.

Here are some of the common fixes for the issue.

Install a rainwater tank

If you don't enjoy the taste of hard water, it can make sense to install a rainwater tank. While in most places rainfall won't be enough to cover all of your water usage year round, but you can use this water for drinking water and food preparation. Some people also like to use softer water for hair washing, as hard water can lead to less hair volume, so you may also like to use rainwater for washing as well. It's important to remember if you use a rainwater tank that your water won't have fluoride in it, which can lead to a higher risk of teeth decay.

Additionally, using groundwater in the rest of the house can continue to lead to buildup in the appliances such as washing machines and dishwasher, which can lower efficiency of these devices and their overall life.

Replace steel pipes with PVC

If you currently have steel pipes you can try replacing these with PVC piping. These are less vulnerable to corrosion and buildup from hard water mineral buildup. This tends to be a big plumbing job, but it can be worth it if you have recurring issues with hard water causing plumbing issues in your home.

Install a water softening system

You can purchase water softening systems, which provide a continuous supply of soft water to the entire house. There are several models, including the salt replacement models which operate by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions in the water with salt or potassium by passing through beds of resin beads and magnetic models which operate by placing an magnetic kit to create a magnetic charge around the pipe (note there is some controversy by some not-for-profit organisation such as the Water Quality Association as to the effectiveness of the magnetic water softener systems). These systems are available from most plumbing stores and can be installed as DIY job, but installation can be a little complicated if you are not confident DIYer.

There are a range of solutions to hard water, depending on the severity of the issue and your budget. Contact a local plumber like Alderbrook Plumbing to discuss which option might be best for your home.