Water hardness is the level of dissolved calcium and magnesium compounds in water, along with other metals at times. The main reason for the hardness of most drinking water is the presence of natural elements in it — water dissolves well and easily absorbs impurities. Initially, the water in which it was difficult to wash anything because the soap didn’t form a foam (due to the chemical composition of the water) was called hard water. Dissolved calcium and magnesium salts primarily contribute to the formation of buildup in pipes and water heaters and cause numerous problems in the laundry, kitchen, and bathroom.

Hard water can be divided into 2 types: permanent hardness and temporary hardness. They differ mainly by the fact that water with a temporary type of hardness can be softened by boiling it; while water of constant hardness cannot be softened by boiling, and one should use a special softener or an ion-exchange column to do it.

Comments to article «What Water Hardness Can Affect, and How to Test It in Home Conditions»