Domestic plumbing

Hard Water Vs Soft Water - The causes and consequences on your domestic plumbing

Tap water. Something we all have in our homes and use on a daily basis without even thinking about. But do we know what kind of water we have in our home and how this could be affecting our plumbing, health and appliances? There are many kinds of water we have access to, but the main types coming in from our plumbing are hard water and soft water. In this months blog, we take a deep dive into how water could be affecting human health, our personal preferences on the type of water coming into our homes and whether water pollution has any part to play. We also look at how a local plumber could support you to make the best of the water flowing into your home, and prolonging your pipework! 

Why does the water differ in various places?

Types of water vary across the country. The type of water you have in your home all depend on the land that you live on. The type of rocks in your area have a big part to play in your water type. In an area with lower calcium and magnesium content, you are likely to have harder water. For those who live surrounded by limestone and chalk, your water will be softer than those in high granite regions. 

As rainwater is naturally soft, with a higher calcium and magnesium mineral content, when it falls to the ground and passes through the rocks, the organic compounds contained within the rocks will dissolve into the water making it harder. Soft water comes from areas with high granite content, whose rocks don’t give up much in the way of mineral content.

The positives and negatives of hard water 

Hard water mainly occurs in the east of the UK and can have both positive and negative effects on our homes and health.

Positives of hard waterNegatives of soft water
Abundant in minerals – calcium, iron and manganese.Can cause acne and dry skin
Protection for heart and bonesPlumbing issues
Helps prevent osteoporosisPotential limescale and clogging

Whilst harder water is great for the health benefits it provides, thanks to the high mineral content, it can have a terrible effect on our plumbing and appliances. Luckily, with various water softeners, limescale cleaners and other handy products we can attempt to prolong the lives of our washing machines and coffee machines. 

If you are looking for a longer term fix to your hard water, getting a water softener and filtration system installed could leave you with softer skin, a reduction in the use of soap and cleaner glasses. Speak to Three Counties Plumbing, your Aylesbury Plumber, to discuss the options for getting a water softener fitted and if this could be the right option for you. 

Not only can your local plumber Three Counties Plumbing support you with a water softener and filtration system, they can fix your clogged pipes and limescale build up. Just get in contact today for a quick free quote on the work that needs to be carried out on your plumbing system to ensure it runs in tip top shape. 

The positives and negatives of soft water

Soft water – often us brits from the East of England who holiday down south (Devon / Cornwall) come back feeling as though we have softer skin and shinier hair, as well as noticing a difference in the taste of water when we get home. Thats because of the naturally softer water in other parts of the country.

Positives of soft waterNegatives of soft water
Good for skin and hairLack of mineral content
High sodium contentLittle to no health benefits
Less damage to appliances and plumbing 

It is clear from the above that softer water does work much better with our appliances and our skin, however due to the lack of mineral content, soft water has little to no health benefits when ingested. 

Many of us also prefer the taste of harder water, particularly in our favourite cup of tea. It is thought that the minerals that build up in the water from passing through rock formations lends itself to the overall taste, smell and consistency of the water that ends up in our favourite mug. 

When living with softer water, you will generally have less scale build up in your showers, sinks and baths as opposed to those living in hard water areas. This is because soft water doesn’t leave behind minerals like hard water does. 

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The type of water in your area

Do you know what type of water you have in your area? Knowing the type of water you have could explain any issues you may be having with limescale or lack of natural mineral intake. We have compiled a list of the local areas the type of water you have in your town / city:

AylesburyVery hard water
Hemel HempsteadVery hard water
Milton KeynesVery hard water
OxfordHard water
ReadingHard water
SloughVery hard water

As you can see from the above table, we live in a very hard water area, so although we benefit from the incredible amount of minerals within our water, our plumbing and appliances don’t benefit so much! Luckily, your trusted plumber in Aylesbury can assist with any corrosion, limescale and clogging that is associated with the hard water in your area. 

If you are looking to soften the water that comes into your home, why not speak to Three Counties Plumbing, who will be able to offer expert advice on the solutions available to you and your plumbing concerns. 

Call Three Counties Plumbing for expert advice on getting the best from your water 

Established in 1997, Three Counties Plumbing are the plumbing experts who have been called to many domestic and commercial plumbing challenges that hard water has been the cause of. Whether your pipes are clogged, you have excessive limescale issues or you need to discuss the options for making your water softer, Three Counties Plumbing are the plumbers who are on hand and happy to support with your plumbing challenges. Contact Three Counties Plumbing today and get your plumbing issues resolved quickly and effectively. 

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