Hard Water? Fix It at the Source

Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium picked up as water moves through limestone. It's safe to drink, but those minerals leave scale wherever water is heated or evaporates: inside water heaters, pipes, faucets, showerheads, and appliances. Hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg). The U.S. Geological Survey classifies water above 120 mg/L (about 7 gpg) as hard, and above 180 mg/L (about 10.5 gpg) as very hard.

• White, crusty buildup on faucets and showerheads
• Spots and film on dishes and glass shower doors
• Soap and shampoo that don't lather well
• Stiff, dingy laundry
• Weak flow from clogged aerators and showerheads
• Sediment in your tank water heater, or scale errors on a tankless unit

• Salt-based (ion-exchange) water softener: removes calcium and magnesium by exchanging them for sodium or potassium. This is the standard whole-home option for truly softening water.
• Salt-free conditioner: changes how minerals behave so they're less likely to form scale, but doesn't remove hardness. Results vary.
• Reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink: excellent for drinking and cooking water and often paired with a softener, but it doesn't treat the whole house.

Start with a hardness test of your water. Speedy's Plumbing sells and installs water softeners, and Ruben can help you understand your water conditions, choose a softener sized for your household, and install it properly. If your home is on a septic system, mention it: it affects where a softener's regeneration water should go. Softened water contains a small amount of added sodium; potassium chloride can be used instead of salt, or you can drink from a reverse osmosis tap.

Hard water is the main reason tank water heaters fill with sediment and tankless heat exchangers scale up. Softening your water can slow that buildup, but it doesn't replace maintenance, so keep following your heater's flushing or descaling schedule. Learn more in our Water Heater Flushing & Maintenance guide.

Ruben is a Texas licensed master plumber with 40 years of experience serving Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, and the surrounding Hill Country. Speedy's Plumbing sells and installs water softeners. Call (210) 425-1360 to talk through your hard water problems and get a quote. Our free Hard Water Survival Guide for homeowners is coming soon.