Hard water is a real problem in Toronto and its environs. Although it has no negative health effects, it can cause havoc to your plumbing system. Hard water is simply raw water with high concentration of calcium and magnesium. It is these mineral elements that cause problems in the plumbing system resulting in massive repair costs to homeowners. But how can you tell that you have hard water in your home? Well, it is very easy. You don’t need a machine to detect that. Here are homemade tips that can help you tell if you have hard water:

1. Spotty Dishes

If you are seeing spots on your dishes post cleaning, it is an indication that you have hard water in supply. This water does not combine freely with detergents and thus it is to rinse away soap. That is why spots of soap will be seen on the dishes after washing. Another explanation for spots on dishes is calcium which is left after the water evaporates.

2. Strange Stains

If you are seeing strange stains in your toilets and sinks, it could be a sign of hard water supply. If you see anything looking similar to rust spots, that could be aftermath of hard water. Some of the minerals this water are corrosive and when deposited inside the pipes, the cause the pipes to rust. So what you are seeing in the sinks and toilets is a residue spilling out.

3. Laundry Problems

Minerals in the hard water i.e. calcium and magnesium are not friends with the washing detergent. So when you start washing your clothes, the detergent will cleans off the dirt and grime but the water will not wash it away. So you will start noticing that your clothes are not getting clean as they should. Over time, your clothes will start appearing dingy, dull and wear out really fast. If that is the case, you need to have the problem of hard water fixed.

4. Frequent Appliance Repair

Hard water will not only affect the water channeling infrastructure in your plumbing system but water base appliances as well. So if you find that your coffee brewing machine, washing machine and dishwashers are getting repairs more often than seems reasonable, you are probably dealing with hard water problems.

5. Clogging Pipes for No Reason

If you find out that pipes are frequently clogging for no reason, it could be a problems caused by hard water. In most cases, the excess minerals in the water get attached/clings to the inside of the pipes. As the days go, these minerals will continue building up and the water pressure start dropping and eventually blockage since water can’t get through. However, these are unique clogs and the best way to solve them is by using chemical drain cleaners.

These are 5 top signs that can help homeowners tell if they have hard water or not. If you are experiencing any of these signs in Toronto and its environs, please book an appointment with Caldwell Plumbing today or get a free online estimate. We provide plumbing service to Oshawa, Courtice, Bomanville, Uxbridge, Pickering, Ajax, and the rest of Durham Region.