We have some good news, and some not-so-great news when it comes to the quality of the water you drink, bathe with, and use for various other tasks in your home. The good news is, if your water comes from a city main then it goes through heavy filtration before it reaches your faucets and taps. This means that you usually do not have to worry about harmful contaminants reaching your home.
The not-so-great news is two-fold. First off, that water has a long way to go from the municipal plant to your house—it can pick up stuff along the way such as minerals causing hard water, and other pollutants. Secondly, if you’re getting your water from a well, then the quality of your water is even more unpredictable.
Back to that good news though! You can tell what shape your home’s water is with professional water testing in Cedar Falls, from our experienced team. From there, we can make recommendations for you to improve the health and safety of your water. In the meantime, here are some signs to watch out for that indicate you need such a service.
Limescale
Hard water is a problem that homes throughout the country have. It’s not a health and safety hazard, but it is a problem. Hard water is water with high levels of minerals in it—namely magnesium, calcium, and iron. The reason we say it’s not a health or safety hazard is that these minerals are okay to ingest. But, in the long term, they’re not okay for the inside of your plumbing.
What happens is when there are enough of these minerals, limescale begins to form. Again, this isn’t a threat directly to you, but it will cause a number of problems for your home’s plumbing system. Plumbing supplies with advanced limescale buildup are significantly less efficient as water flow is restricted, plus this buildup will lead to corrosion and premature pipe replacement and repair.
Odd Tastes
There is a wide range of potentially harmful waterborne contaminants that can change the taste of your drinking water. True, few people actually enjoy the taste of tap water anyway—it’s bound to have some sort of mild taste.
But if you’re noticing a substantial change in that taste, particularly if it is metallic, you should have a professional check the water to ensure it doesn’t need treatment. It’s better to be safe and make sure your water is okay than to risk exposure to something harmful.
Strange Colors
Usually accompanied by the previous symptom, water that’s discolored should be another big sign that you need to have a water treatment system installed in your home. Some discoloration might not necessarily indicate that there is a serious problem in your water supply, but if there is major discoloration, or the water is opaque, then it’s best to avoid drinking or bathing in it until you can have it checked out.
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment for the installation of a water treatment system in Cedar Rapids, IA, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.