[yasudab]

i heard about the hard water and it wrecks havoc on plumbing. Any horror stories out there? Any floods of houuses, etc? Any way to prevent this problem?

[RedRockAAAA]

the house we bought has a reionizer, no salt. water is very soft. not sure how it works. if you google it you get a small explanation. i sure hope there are no horror stories. if there are ... what can be done to prevent it?

[orca17]

We put in a water softening system about three weeks after we moved in (the house was new). The water here is very alkaline and has a lot of minerals in it, so (unsoftened) it is very rough on any appliances that use water (water heater, washer, dishwasher, etc.). Calcium seems to be the biggest culprit as far as leaving deposits in supply lines and so forth.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by yasudab

i heard about the hard water and it wrecks havoc on plumbing. Any horror stories out there? Any floods of houses, etc? Any way to prevent this problem?

The stories about our hard water are way overblown. That said, if you own, you'll probably be happier with a water softener. RO filters are nice too. Makes the water taste a little better, but the water won't hurt you out of the faucet either. Best place for a softener and RO system is Sears. Best to run some of the water out of your hot water tank once or twice a year too. My five year hot water tanks have only lasted seven years. Gotta improve on that.

[jpk]

If you go to Lake Mead, take a look at the white bathtub ring all around the water. That's calcium deposits left behind when the water evaporates. Seriously hard water at Lake Mead, and that is the source of our city water. You'll see it in your home as white water spots around the sink, on dishes, etc. Don't wash a black car and let the water drops dry or your car it will be covered in hard water spots like a dalmation.

It won't make your plumbing explode or anything like that. It just will plug things up over the years. It also makes it harder to get a good lather in the shower, laundry, or dishwasher. So a water softener as others have said will help that.

[jfkIII]

...sort of like the hard stuff that forms where your teeth meet the gums, that dental hygenists scrape out when you get your teeth cleaned.

[Packrat1]

Spend the money and get a good water softener. Not the cheap ones at the local Home Improvement stores but a good one. I paid about $1,200 for mine. We use salt lick blocks instead of salt pellets. They last a lot longer and are cleaner to use. PM me if you would like a referral for the guy I use on both my rental homes.

[nwlv]

But then aren't you adding sodium to your water? The water in Bullhead City is way harder. I don't think it's that bad. My hot water heater is 15 and is in new condition. I heat with hot water as well. Sure, there are a few deposits on the valves, but that's nothing.

[Packrat1]

That is a common misconception. The salt in a salt system is used in the flushing mode and not directly into the tap water.

[nwlv]

That's not what this guide says. Water softener FAQ