Hard Water Deposits
Hard Water Deposits | Water Purification | Plumbing | Jasper
Mineral-rich water may keep you healthy, but it’s rough on plumbing. Those stubborn calcium and magnesium deposits cling to pipes, faucets, and water-using appliances, shrinking water flow and forcing equipment to work overtime. HEP’s experts track scale to its source, remove existing buildup without harming your fixtures, and tailor long-term solutions that prevent it from coming back—saving you money and extending the life of everything from your dishwasher to your water heater.
Our cutting-edge water purification systems strip out excess hardness before it reaches your taps, delivering crystal-clear water that tastes better, cleans better, and treats your plumbing with the respect it deserves. Backed by decades of know-how, friendly technicians, and a satisfaction guarantee, HEP turns every glass, shower, and spin cycle into a softer, smoother experience—so you can forget about scale and focus on living.
FAQs
What exactly is “hard water,” and why does it leave deposits in my plumbing?
Hard water contains elevated levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium (typically above 120 ppm as CaCO₃). When the water is heated or evaporates, these minerals precipitate out as a chalky scale that clings to pipe walls, faucet aerators, and inside water-using appliances. Over time, the scale narrows pipe diameter, reduces water pressure, and shortens the life of water heaters and dishwashers.
How can I tell if my home in Jasper has hard water without sending it to a lab?
Common signs include white, crusty buildup on faucets or showerheads, spots on dishes after washing, soap that refuses to lather, dull or stiff laundry, and frequent element failure in your water heater. For a quick confirmation, use an inexpensive test strip kit from a hardware store; most Jasper homes read between 15–20 grains per gallon (approximately 260–340 ppm), which is considered very hard.
What problems do hard water deposits cause besides clogging pipes?
Scale acts as an insulator on heating elements, forcing water heaters to run longer and consume more energy (up to 30 % higher utility bills). Appliances such as coffee makers, ice machines, and humidifiers fail prematurely. In bathrooms, the scale etches glass doors and stains tile grout. On skin and hair, hard water leaves a residue that can trigger dryness or irritation.
Which water purification or softening options are most effective for removing hardness minerals?
The gold standard for whole-home treatment is an ion-exchange water softener. It swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium, delivering virtually zero-grain water. If you need spot treatment (e.g., for drinking water), a reverse-osmosis (RO) unit can remove 90–99 % of dissolved minerals. Magnetic or electronic “descalers” may reduce scale adhesion but do not actually soften the water, so we do not recommend them as a primary solution in Jasper’s hardness range.
Will a water softener add too much sodium to my drinking water?
Only trace amounts. Softening adds roughly 7.5 mg of sodium per grain of hardness removed per quart of water. In Jasper, a typical 18-grain supply would equal about 135 mg of sodium per quart—less than the sodium in one slice of bread. If you are on a very low-sodium diet, consider using potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride in the softener or install an RO tap for cooking and drinking.
What maintenance is required once I install a softening or purification system?
1. Keep the brine tank at least one-third full of salt (or potassium) pellets and top it off every 4–6 weeks. 2. Clean the brine tank annually to prevent salt bridging. 3. Replace sediment pre-filters every 3–6 months to protect the softener’s resin. 4. For RO systems, change carbon and sediment cartridges every 6–12 months and the membrane every 2–4 years, depending on feed water quality. 5. Schedule a professional hardness check each year; resin may need re-bedding after 10–15 years, depending on usage.