Of all of the things in your home that are affected by hard water, your water heater suffers from some of the biggest problems. That’s because hard water can affect everything from how efficiently your water heater operates to how long it will last. Today we’re going to talk about four effects that hard water has on your water heater and how installing a water softener can protect your unit!
4 effects hard water has on your water heater
- Reduces your water heater’s efficiency. If your home has hard water, hardness minerals create limescale that builds up on the bottom of your water heater’s tank. Because your water heater is heated from the bottom, limescale creates a barrier between the heating elements and the water in the tank. This forces your water heater to work harder and longer to heat your home’s water, which can significantly increase operating costs.
- Hinders your water heater’s performance. Along with reducing efficiency levels, hard water also hinders your water heater’s performance. If too much limescale builds up on the bottom of your tank, your water heater will have a hard time heating your home’s water to a high enough temperature and your home won’t have water that’s hot enough for showering, washing dishes and more.
- Increases the amount of times your tanks needs to be flushed. Water heaters need to be flushed in order to remove sediment buildup on the bottom of their tanks. Whereas homes with soft water only need to flush their tanks about once a year, homes with hard water will need to flush their tanks as often as every three months in order to keep them running efficiently.
- Shortens your water heater’s operating life. As we discussed above, hard water forces your water heater to work harder and longer than it would with soft water. This takes a toll on your water heater over time and can significantly reduce its operating life. In addition, hard water can deteriorate the insides of your water heater, which can lead to breakdowns and a shortened life expectancy.
Give your water heater a helping hand by installing a water softener
A water softener will remove the hazardous hardness minerals from your home’s water before it enters your water heater. By installing a water softener like the Hague WaterMax in your home, you can avoid the problems listed above and maximize your water heater’s performance and efficiency levels.
If you have any questions about the effects of hard water on your water heater, or if you’d like a water treatment system serviced or installed in your home, contact EPA Water Consultants. We install Hague water filtration and water softening systems in Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including towns like Chestnut Hill, Churchville and Coatesville, PA.
photo credit: Mr.Thomas via photopin cc