Hard water contains minerals, usually calcium and magnesium ions, which can reduce the effectiveness of soap and cause scale on dishes and water pipes. There are several tests that can be used to test water hardness, from simple tests that you can try right away, to tests with more accurate equipment. If the test results reveal that your water source is hard, there are several approaches you can try to minimize the impact.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Testing Hardness Quickly
Step 1. Prepare a clear bottle
This test will only give a rough estimate of the hardness of the water, but it will also only take a few minutes. Start by preparing a clear bottle that can hold at least 360 ml of water, preferably more. If you can't find a bottle with a lid, use any clear container instead.
Step 2. Fill the bottle with water
Prepare 360 ml of tap water and pour it into a container.
Step 3. Add 10 drops of liquid soap to the container
Some soaps react more to hard water than others. Therefore, the results of these tests are not always accurate. Many dish soaps don't react very well to hard water. So liquid hand soap is probably best suited for this test. Castile soap is a common choice because its simple ingredients ensure that no other chemical interferes with the test results.
Step 4. Shake the bottle of soapy water
Put the cap on the bottle then shake the bottle for a few seconds. If the container you're using doesn't have a lid, just stir vigorously until the soap mixes well in the water.
Step 5. Pay attention to the foam
Open the bottle and notice the soap foam on the surface of the water. If there's a lot of foam, it's likely that your water is quite soft. However, if there are only a few soap bubbles on the surface of the water, proceed to the next step.
Step 6. Add more and more soap gradually
Gradually add 5-10 drops of soap, then shake the bottle each time the soap is added. The number of soap droplets required to produce foam can be used as a rough estimate of the hardness of the water:
- 20 drops: slightly hard
- 30 drops: moderately hard
- 40 drops: sad
- 50 drops more: very hard
Step 7. Observe the soap scum
Very soft water will create a soapy lather on the surface of the water, but it won't change the color of the water itself (the water will stay clear). Meanwhile, the minerals in hard water will react with the soap and produce foam. So, in addition to forming foam, soap foam will also make the water look cloudy. The water in your bottle will almost certainly be hard if it appears cloudy with soap froth.
Step 8. Determine if you need to soften the water
Water that is "fairly hard" or less is usually not a problem in your home. However, if your water source isn't very hard, but you're having problems, read home remedies or look for information on how to test your water's hardness more accurately.
Method 2 of 3: Identifying and Overcoming Hard Water Problems
Step 1. Observe for a white crust
The mineral content in hard water can cause white scale in the sink, shower or bathroom. If this happens, chances are your plumbing is crusting. This is one problem that you cannot solve on your own, and may have to be addressed by installing a water softener. If left unchecked, hard water will slowly clog water pipes, lowering water pressure and shortening the life of your drains. If there isn't much scale and your water pipes are still working fine, you may be able to fix certain problems with the less expensive solutions below.
Step 2. Pay attention to your clothes
Soap scum formed in hard water can stick to the fabric, making it stiff and rough. In severe cases, soap may not be able to clean clothes completely and make white clothes turn gray and brightly colored clothes dull, or even leave a sour smell on clothes. Try one or more of the following solutions:
- Increase the temperature of the washing machine.
- Use more laundry soap.
- Add non-settling water conditioner to the washing machine before soap.
Step 3. Look for spots and scratches on the glassware
One of the most obvious signs of hard water is the white spots that appear on glassware after washing. There are actually two types of damage that can be caused by hard water:
- Hard water spots are surface stains that can be removed by rubbing vinegar or an abrasive cleaning agent such as baking powder.
- Scratches are permanent damage to glass. However, this damage can be polished to a point where it fades with a glazing product. Light scratches on the glass will look like multicolored layers. Meanwhile, heavy scratches will make the glass appear blurry.
- To reduce the possibility of both types of damage, lower the temperature of the dishwasher or rinse your dishes thoroughly before putting them in the dishwasher.
Step 4. Troubleshoot the shower
Very hard water can irritate your skin, make your hair stiff and dull, or even leave a layer of soap on your skin's surface. If you don't want to install a water softener at home, try the following solutions:
- Install a showerhead equipped with a water softener and replace it regularly by adding salt. A shower head that doesn't need salt is basically just a filter and won't soften the water.
- To improve the texture of your hair, use a shampoo that contains a chelating agent, then follow up with a softening conditioner. Shampoos with chelating agents can remove minerals from hair and generally contain "EDTA" or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.
Method 3 of 3: Checking Water Hardness Accurately
Step 1. Understand the units of water hardness level
Official reports or scientific test results should be able to provide accurate water hardness level information. These are some of the most commonly used water hardness units in most areas. So, learn how to understand the result:
- Grains Per Gallon or only grains: 3.5 – 7.0 is moderately hard, and more than that can cause problems.
- Bpj, mg/l, or American degree of hardness: 60–120 means moderately hard.
Step 2. Contact the local water company
The local water company may be able to provide information on the hardness level of your water supply.
Step 3. Request a free test with a water softener company
Many companies like this offer free water testing in the hope that you will use their services. They may ask for a water sample and send you the test results. Or, they may send a water hardness tester to your home. Read the user manual to find out how to use it.
Step 4. Use a test strip to test the hardness of the water
You can buy this kit online or at a water softener system retailer. It's very easy to use, just dip a test strip in water and observe the color change. The label on the strip or the guide on the package will indicate the hardness level of the water based on this color change.
This test is quite accurate for households. However, do not rely on the results of this test as a basis for adjusting the hardness level of swimming pool water or other systems that require an accurate measure of hardness level
Step 5. Perform the test with a water hardness titration device
These more accurate test kits are available online or at some pool supply stores. Generally, you just need to fill the bottle with water up to the mark on the surface, then add the available chemicals drop by drop. The number of drops of a chemical required to change the color of the water is an indicator of the hardness of the water.
Test kits that use digital screens are usually used in special situations, such as in the case of very soft water. This tool is more expensive and is not required for household testing
Step 6. Send the water sample to a professional water testing laboratory
Consider this more expensive option only if you need a detailed analysis of the water, including the exact contaminants and mineral content in it. If you have a well or private water source, it's a good idea to do this kind of testing once a year. However, testing for contamination in water is more important than testing for hardness. You may also want to do a water test if you open a spa or other business that relies on clean water.
If you don't know where a laboratory that can test water is located, seek information from the faculty of agriculture at a nearby university
Tips
- The level of water hardness is not considered a risk to health by the World Health Organization (World Health Organization). Water hardness has been associated with various effects, but the results of these studies cannot be definitively concluded, and the possible risk is small.
- A very large electric bill due to the use of a water heater may indicate hard water. Hard water can clog the water heating system, reducing its efficiency. Some water heaters are labeled with the average household energy consumption level. Multiply this value by the basic electricity rate per kilowatt-hour to get a rough estimate of what the cost should be.
- Fish aquariums require more minerals than household water supplies. Check with an aquarium store clerk or aquarium enthusiast if you're not sure how to measure water hardness or add minerals according to your pet fish species.
Warning
- Some water softening systems can pose serious health risks to people who are medically required to be on a low sodium diet. If you are on a special diet to control your mineral intake, consult your doctor first before installing a water softener into your tap.
- Do not rely too much on a map of the water hardness level in one area. This map is only an estimate of the average water hardness level in your area, and may not be appropriate for the conditions in which you live.
