Hard Water Stains - Top Tips to Improve Your Well Water Supply and Prevent Water Stains

The water from your well could be costing you hundreds of dollars a year. This is because well water (or borehole water as it is sometimes called) contains high levels of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which cause stubborn hard water stains and also stick to the elements on kettles and boilers causing them to be much less efficient.

If your water comes straight from a local well it may contain several components that could be potentially harmful to your family. There are many people in the US and around the world who have the same problem, especially the very common and annoying hard water minerals that cause hard water stains, which end up on fixtures and fittings. However, there are some really simple ways to combat these unwanted minerals and by installing a device to your home that will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your water is the best it can be.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Top Tips To Improve Your Well Water Supply:

One of the simplest ways to improve the quality of your water is to install a water softener. These devices remove the calcium and magnesium minerals that cause hard water stains, and replace them with sodium which makes the water much "softer". The advantage of this is it also prevents these same minerals from sticking to the heating elements of kettles, boilers and other appliances in the home.

Water softeners generally contain an easy to install cartridge that must be replaced every few months, or recharged, to keep it in top condition.

Water filters are also a great way to improve the quality of your well water and there are some great devices available that do an excellent job. Basically, these devices contain a filter that removes the unwanted minerals from your water and makes it cleaner and of higher quality.

One of the best types of filter to purchase is called a reverse-osmosis filters. These filters are often considered the best form of water filtration available today. The water is passed through several types of filters including a semi-permeable membrane, which filters out almost every contaminant.

They are more expensive than other types of filters but have reasonably low running costs, very effective filtration and can also be used to filter water to the whole house. These devices are the industry standard and can help to achieve very high purification, so much so that often people comment that they can actually taste the difference themselves once one of these has been installed.

Electromagnetic water conditioners are another way to reduce the level of minerals in well water and are a relatively new invention. The idea is that by passing water through a magnetic field, the calcium and magnesium ions are altered in such a way that they lose their ability to cause scale.

These devices have a number of benefits and many are used in industry; although the water is not technically soft, it has the useful properties of soft water, that is, it may reduce limescale in pipes and may increase heating efficiency as well as lengthening the lifespan of any clothes washed in the conditioned water.

However, the jury is still out on whether these devices work effectively in a residential environment. The magnetic current that passes through the water does not technically remove the unwanted minerals but simply changes the chemical make-up of them. This is supposed to prevent the minerals from "sticking" to the sides of pipes and fixtures around the home - thus reducing hard water stains and scale formation. However, as they are still present in the water, they can still cause problems around the home and are not particularly effective in hard water stains removal. There was a period of time in the 60's and 70's where many of these anti scale devices were installed in industrial systems, however they are not used as frequently these days.

Summary:

So, if you receive your water from a well water supply then there are some proven techniques for removing the annoying minerals and potentially toxic chemicals that are present in this type of water. Installing a device to filter your water is a great idea and could reduce the formation of hard water stains in your home, as well as making your morning coffee taste even better!

Hard Water Stains - Top Tips to Improve Your Well Water Supply and Prevent Water Stains

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Shower Doors - Cleaning the Scum and Stains

Your glass shower door can be a thing of beauty until it becomes coated with hard water mineral stains, mildew and soap scum. Instead of replacing the door to get that new clean door look try some cleaning tips from the glass door experts.

For a shower door that is prone to soap scum, many consumers have found the solution is quite simple. Simply stop using bar soap and switch to liquid body soap. It isn't necessarily as cost effective but it won't leave your door covered with soap scum either.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

If you are determined to keep using bar soap or you just want to get the old scum off the shower door, one solution to keeping it clean and clear is to use a mixture of one cup liquid fabric softener and one quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge and rinse off and you door should be sparkling clean again.

Some consumers have reported wonderful results with the unexpected cleaning material such as fine steel wool. Simply use the fine steel wool to give the glass shower doors a gently scrubbing and the end results will speak for themselves. However as a word of warning, this method is one that should be tried in an inconspicuous location first and only with the lightest touch to make sure the glass won't be scratched and damaged by the procedure.

If you have hard water deposits it can be harder to get the sparkle back without using harsh abrasive chemicals but there are a few safe alternatives to try that have been successful. For example a sponge dipped in white vinegar and a gently scrubbing can often loosen up hard water deposits so a final rinsing of water makes the door as good as new again.

If your door is prone to mildew some preventive care can help. Squeegee the door down after your shower and wipe down the inside of the shower so it isn't left wet. Keep the door cracked to allow air to circulate and vent and keep mildew at bay. You can also spray the shower down regularly with a disinfect mildew preventive spray.

And of course if all else fails you can use commercial cleaners that are designed specifically for hard water, soap scum and mildew clean up. But the best solution to keeping your shower door looking new and clean is to maintain a weekly cleaning schedule in the first place so you can enjoy the beauty of your glass doors that drew you to them in the first place.

Shower Doors - Cleaning the Scum and Stains

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS