Water hardness is one of homeowners' most common complaints about theirwater quality.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water has problems making suds, which makes shampoo and soaps less effective or requires much more soap.
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Generally, hard water does not clean laundry or dishes as well assoft water.
There are several ways to test for hard water.
Many utilities also post reports online.
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Water can pick up minerals from the piping en route to your house.
However, water quality reports can provide an idea of the water hardness in your area.
Water hardness is commonly reported as calcium carbonate in milligrams per liter (mg/L).
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Fill the bottle 1/3 full with water from the faucet (at least 8 to 10 ounces).
Set the bottle down and observe the results.
Opt for a kit made by a reputable water-testing manufacturer, ensuring the kit tests for hardness.
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Some kits test only for specific contaminants,like radon, while others test for overall quality and safety.
Testing kits differ slightly.
Some come with a solution that you dip in the water to test for water hardness.
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Most are wet-strip tests, similar to swimming pool or spa water tests.
Some test kits may include a testing container.
Insert Test Strip
Immerse the paper test strip in the water according to the package instructions.
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Usually, it’s for a few seconds.
The chart should indicate how hard (or soft) your water is.
Effects of Hard Water
As mentioned, hard water doesn’t pose a health risk.
Sengupta P.Potential health impacts of hard water.Int J Prev Med.
2013;4(8):866-875.
