Living with well water is a problem that millions of people face daily. Well water runs through the taps in many geographical locations and cities across the United States. It's a problem that households must deal with on their own. When you see 'water spots' on everything from dishwashers to refrigerators and from hot water tanks to the washing machine, you could be dealing with well water.
Is well water hard or soft?
When minerals like calcium and magnesium bind to oxygen and hydrogen molecules, water becomes hard. Although the well water is not necessarily hard, it is more likely to be so since it comes from the earth rather than from a designated reservoir.
How well water affects your appliances and utilities?
The well water may appear to be a rusty annoyance that stains your sinks up clothes, but it contains a high mineral concentration that might harm your appliances and utilities.
Well Water and Washing machines
You may have observed that the cleaning activity of soaps and detergents is hampered by minerals (i.e., little to no lather). Consequently, more cleaning chemicals are needed to combat the well and hard water, and even then, the laundry results aren't as good as they would be with soft water. However, the most serious problem is that these minerals can accumulate on the washing tub, lint screen, pump mechanism, and other moving parts. This buildup has the potential to cause the appliance to fail prematurely.
Well Water and Dishwashers
Using well water in the dishwasher not only hampers dish cleaning, but the mineral deposits on the dishes can erode the surface, leaving glassware permanently dull and hazy, just like washing machines. Furthermore, calcium and magnesium carbonates might clog the machine's mechanism, reducing the appliance's lifespan.
Well Water and Refrigerators
The well water reduces the efficiency of all equipment that utilize or process water, and mineral buildup severely reduces the life of these products. Refrigerators and freezers are in the same boat.
Well Water and Hot Water Tanks
Hot water tanks that run on untreated well water use a lot more energy than those that run on softened water. When heated, the calcium and magnesium in hard and well water create a rock-like scale. We discovered almost 40 pounds of silt in a ten-year-old hot water tank in one incident.
How to maintain your appliances and utilities?
Use water softeners
Install a water softener in your house if you want to eliminate well water problems at their source. A water softener will reduce the calcium and magnesium levels in your water, resulting in softer water throughout your house.
Include a rinse aid
Rinse aid can assist with the spotty and streaky dishes we mentioned before. It's advisable to check your owner's handbook of the appliances to discover how much and what sort of rinse aid the manufacturer recommends.
More detergent should be used
If you don't want to spend the money on a water softener, you may try putting additional detergent in your dishwasher and washing machine. In houses with well water, check your owner's handbook to see how much detergent they recommend.
Use vinegar to clean the appliances
The well water stains on your appliances and utilities may easily be removed with vinegar. Fill a cup with vinegar and run a cycle with the cup on the top rack if you detect calcium scale on the bottom of your machine.
Final Thoughts
There are various remedies for various problems, but there is only one ideal solution for all of your well water concerns. Installing a water softener in your house is an example of this. Water softeners filter out calcium, magnesium, and iron from the water as it enters the house. It's a wise investment that may save you both time and money.
