You may have heard the term hard water at some point or another, but maybe don’t know what it actually is. Hard water is water that has a high presence of minerals in it—namely, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are harmless to your health, but the same cannot be said for your plumbing system. Your pipes and your quality of life can suffer in a number of ways due to hard water. Here are some of them:
- Hard water makes it hard for soap to lather, turning cleaning and showering into nuisance chores.
- It leaves buildup on the inside of your pipes, which can lead to clogs and subsequent drop in water pressure.
- It stains your laundry and leads to the quicker breakdown of your clothing and other washables.

Tank Water Heaters: They’re big, noticeable, often noisy, and seen in the majority of homes throughout the country.
Water heaters are designed to last a very long time, particularly if you give them the right level of care and maintenance. However, no matter how well you take care of your water heater, eventually it will need to be replaced. The trick is being able to identify when that time has come, so you can invest in an upgrade before it breaks down on you altogether.
There are a number of options today when it comes to selecting appliances for your home, including the tankless water heater. Many homeowners, however, still utilize the very reliable tank water heater to warm the water in their home. These systems do their jobs quietly, and are often tucked away in little-used parts of the home for space-saving benefits.