White crust on your faucets? A water heater that has taken to making odd popping noises? Dishes with spots you can not seem to get rid of after a cycle in the washer?
Chances are you are up against hard water. In El Paso it is just part of life. We at Sun City Plumbers put homeowners and businesses in the Greater El Paso area to rights when these matters arise. Give us a ring at (915) 308-8899 and we will go over what you are seeing in your home.
Why is the water so hard in El Paso?
In a word, minerals. Hard water is heavy with calcium and magnesium. The geology of our region puts a lot of them in the water supply. Drink all you want, it is perfectly safe. Yet given enough time they put down deposits in your appliances and fixtures.
Once you know how hard water behaves you can put a stop to it before a minor annoyance becomes a costly fix.
The usual suspects
Hard water is more of a slow wear and tear than a dramatic breakdown. In the homes and businesses of El Paso we come across these issues:
- Scale in the pipes constricting the flow and water pressure
- Sediment at the bottom of a tank robbing a water heater of its efficiency
- An aerator or showerhead clogged to the point of an uneven spray or a drip
- A chalky white film on glass doors, tubs and sinks
- Glassware and dishes left spotty by the dishwasher
- Laundry and skin left dry because the soap will not lather as it should
People tend to put off dealing with it and then the damage is done. When a pipe clogs or the water heater gives out, the tab for repairs is far more than it had to be.
Your water heater
No appliance in the house is as hard on as the water heater. The heat causes the minerals to break away and make a sediment layer on the floor of the tank. Now the unit has to exert itself to put out the same hot water which will show up in your energy bill and cut the heater’s life short.
Should you hear some rumbling or popping from the tank, do not put it off. That is water bubbling through the sediment. Have the tank flushed.
Clogged pipes and slow drains
The scale is not confined to the water heater; it is on the interior of your pipes as well. Year in and year out the layer gets thicker, impeding the water. You will feel it in the weaker pressure and slower draining. Eventually the scale will mix with grease and debris to form a clog you can not budge without help.
Fixtures going bad
Check your showerheads and faucets for any crusty white or greenish matter where the water comes out. That is scale and it will block the holes in an aerator for a poor spray. It is also hard on the washers and rubber seals within the fixture, resulting in a drip that is as wasteful of your money as it is of water.
Remedies
One does not have much control over the water coming into the house but there is no reason to let it run roughshod over your plumbing.
Flush the water heater on a regular basis. Put in the time to clean the scale off your showerheads and aerators. Be on the lookout for low pressure or other telltale signs. And put in a call to a plumber to see what can be done about hard water treatment.
Sun City Plumbers
We are a veteran and family owned firm. Our founder, Frank Perry, is a 30-year combat vet with the Marine Corps Reserve and former Battalion Chief for the El Paso Fire Department. We are A+ BBB accredited and extend a 5% discount to first responders and military personnel. From Socorro and Horizon to Anthony, Canutillo, Fabens, Fort Bliss and throughout the rest of the Greater El Paso area we are at your service.
Our hours are 8 to 5 Monday to Friday. For any hard water trouble at your business or home, contact us at (915) 308-8899 and we will have a look.
