Tips for helping to prevent hard water from ruining your appliances.
Did you know that 85 percent of American homes have “hard” water containing an abundance of calcium and magnesium ions? In southern California, the problem has the potential to be especially severe, as our area falls into the “red zone” for water hardness in the US. In other words, most water in our area falls into the category of “very hard water” with over 10.5 grains per gallon. Most municipalities do treat the water supply to reduce hardness, but in some cases this may still leave more minerals in the water than you would like.
Hard water affects your appliances in two main ways. First of all, the mineral ions or grains in the water can precipitate out and create deposits that clog various water pipes, valves, drains, filters, and other parts of the system. These deposits can eventually compromise the system to the point where it might be more prone to developing leaks and the lifespan of the appliance will certainly be affected. One study from the American Water Works Association found that a washing machine will wear out 30 percent faster than normal in a home with hard water.
The second way hard water affects appliances is by interfering with their cleaning power. This mainly applies to dishwashers and clothes washers rather than ice makers. When a detergent is added to hard water, some of that detergent will bind to the magnesium and calcium grains and settle to the bottom rather than remaining suspended in the water and actually cleaning your clothes or dishes.
What to Do about Hard Water
If you have noticed problems like white, cloudy deposits on your glassware, shower curtain, or shower door, or deposits blocking the spray from sink faucets and showerheads, you have hard water. There are several steps you can take to protect your appliances.
The simplest approach is to increase the frequency at which you clean or replace the water filters in your ice maker, dishwasher, and washing machine. This is often all you need to do in areas with only moderately hard water. American Appliance Repair carries a variety of replacement water filters from top brands like Amana, KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, and GE. We can install these filters for you or help you get them for a DIY job.
You can also change the detergents you use in your dishwasher or washing machine to products specially formulated for hard water that will not drop out of the water before they’ve cleaned your items. 20 Mule Team Borax is a good example of such a product.
Another step you may need to take is periodically replacing various appliance parts that may become blocked or damaged by hard water. American Appliance Repair can help with this activity as well. It is a good idea to invest in preventative maintenance every so often so one of our professional repairmen can inspect your appliances and identify and parts that may need replacing.
Finally, if you have really severe hard water you may need to install a water softener to treat all the water entering your home before it gets to various appliances.
