Hard water can be an issue in Greenwich, CT and surrounding Fairfield County towns, particularly in mid country Greenwich. As a local home maintenance company we get a lot of calls regarding clogged plumbing and other issues that range from difficult to clean tubs to fading laundry. There are several factors to consider when dealing with hard water. The following will help you determine how to manage the problem.
What is Hard Water?
Rain starts off as soft water. It becomes hard as it travels thought the ground and into water systems. Along the way it picks up minerals. Calcium and magnesium are two primary minerals that are to blame for certain plumbing issues, but hard water can also contain lime, chalk, and others deposits.
Why is Greenwich, CT Known for Hard Water?
Mid Country Greenwich, in our experience, seems to be an area where there is a high concentration of underground minerals. Our home maintenance professionals have had a higher concentration of service visits to this particular region of the town. The geological conditions of the ground, and the fact that many in this area are on wells, are contributing factors.
Problems Resulting from Hard Water
Mineral rich water can lead to a host of household issues. One of the most serious problems can be clogged plumbing. Mineral deposit buildup can restrict water flow. It can also clog water heaters, dishwashers and other equipment, and cause low flow in showers and sinks.
This is not only inconvenient it can also be lead to big expenses. Appliance lifespan can be shortened, and unclogging plumbing can be a timely job. Reaching out to a residential property maintenance company before the issue gets too severe can help you save in the long run.
When hard water settles on bathtubs, toilets and sinks it can leave visible mineral scale deposits. This film can be very hard to clean off and can be unsightly. Other issues include dingy laundry, hard to clean hair, and skin irritation.
Heavy metal and/or bacteria can also occur in household water supplies that run on wells. Ingesting these deposits can lead to serious health problems if not dealt with. At Greenwich Home Management our water experts can test your water as a first step to determine the condition of your water supply.
How To Solve The Problem of Hard Water
The most common fix is to install a water softener system. The softener removes minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese and replaces them with sodium ions in a process called ion exchange. Softener tanks contain negatively charged media that pulls in positive charged minerals as water passed through. The collected water that contains hard minerals is eventually flushed out of the system.
To determine the type of system you’ll need, a property management company can bring in a water treatment professional to first analyze your water conditions. This will allow them to determine the size and type of water softener equipment to install. During the analysis process it’s always a good idea to test for bacteria and heavy metals as well. If there is an issue you’ll want to consider a water filtration system. Whole house systems can continually filter the entire water supply to the home.
How to Clean Stubborn Deposits
If you have hard water you likely have tubs, toilets and sinks with mineral deposit buildup. This residue is not easily removed. One way to clean these areas is with vinegar. Soak a rag in white vinegar and place the rag over the affected area. Let it sit for one hour. This should loosen the minerals. You can then scrub with a sponge.
In Conclusion
For residents of Greenwich, CT and surrounding Fairfield County towns, hard water can be a persistent issue. The good news is that it can be dealt with. To make sure you achieve the appropriate resolution have your property management service bring in a water treatment professional. They will test the water and make sure that you have the right equipment for your specific needs.
