How Hardwater Can Be Costing You and Your Family

Here’s a fancy experiment for you. 

Ask someone if they drink hard water or soft water.

My bet is that 90% of those people will just stare at you blankly, confused. And the other 10% will just say ‘soft water’ because I don’t chew it.

As a whole people don’t really what hard water really is. Yet, many Australians pay for the consequences of it every year.

This secretive little thing can slowly damage your pipes and appliances.

If you’re in that 90% who has no idea what I’m talking about when I say hard water. Don’t worry, all will be explained. This is something that homeowners should be aware of and check whether they have hard water generally as this can cost you money over time and wear out your appliances.

What Is Hard Water?

Contrary to popular belief, water is more than just… well, water. When it moves in the group it picks up some minerals from the rocks near it. Zinc, iron, magnesium, and calcium all get taken off the rock and added to the water source. These minerals then stay in the water as they travel through the source, up through the pipes, and down your taps.

The more minerals in the water the harder it is.

• Soft water has a very low mineral content.
• Hard water has high amounts of calcium and magnesium, usually over 100 – 500 mg per liter.

Hard water is completely natural. In fact, many areas across Queensland have it. Depending on your location, your tap water might be high in minerals, even if it looks crystal clear.

Now, while calcium and magnesium are good for your body, they’re not great for your plumbing or appliances.

How Does Hard Water Affect Your Appliances?

If you live in the 21st century, you can’t escape owning appliances. Most of us own a got a dishwasher, a washing machine, a hot water system, and maybe a coffee machine. All of these appliances rely on water to run properly.

But when that water is packed with minerals, things start to go wrong behind the scenes.

Here’s what happens:

Minerals Build Up Inside Your Appliances

As hard water flows through an appliance, it leaves behind small amounts of calcium and magnesium. These minerals cling to the inside of pipes, valves, and heating elements, slowly forming a crusty layer called limescale.

Limescale Reduces Efficiency

This crust acts like a barrier. Heating elements have to work harder. Water flow slows down. Parts wear out faster. There has to be more energy consumed to do its basic tasks.

Repairs and Replacements Become More Frequent

The more your appliance struggles, the more likely it is to wear down. This you’ll likely experience more breakdowns and need more repairs. As your appliances wear out, they’ll ultimately have a shorter lifespan meaning that you’ll have to replace them sooner.

Yet, most of this damage is preventable.

Appliances Affected by Hard Water

Hard water can affect your pipes and plumbing as a whole. However, when people experience difficulties because of hard-water, these machines are most likely affected;

Washing Machines

Minerals can build up inside the drum, pipes, and wash tubs. This can:

• Lower water pressure inside the machine
• Reduce how well your detergent works
• Leave clothes feeling rough or looking faded as minerals stain and deposit on clothes
• Cause internal parts to clog

Dishwashers

Hard water often leaves spots and streaks on glasses and plates. But deeper inside, it’s also:

• Blocking spray arms and nozzles
• Clogging filters
• Coating heating elements so that your dishwasher works harder and uses even more energy to clean.
• Worsening water circulation so that the dishes aren’t washed as well

Coffee Machines and Kettles

If you have ever opened their kettle and found a white crust on the bottom – that could be limescale. But besides coating the floor, it can also coat the heating element so that it takes longer for the appliance to heat up.

In coffee machines, it can:

• Slow water flow
• Affects the taste of your coffee, making it taste dull or bitter
• Cause the machine to overheat

Hot Water Systems

This one can really cost you.

Limescale builds up inside the tank and around the heating element. As a result:

• Your system takes longer to heat water
• It uses more energy to do so
• Eventually, it can corrode the tank from the inside out

If left untreated, this could shave years off your system’s life.

Signs That Hard Water Is Wrecking Your Stuff

Even if you haven’t heard of hard water before, you may already be seeing signs around your home.

Look out for:

• White spots on glassware or taps
• Soap that doesn’t lather easily
• Water pressure that seems lower than usual
• Appliances that keep breaking, clogging, or wearing out
• Rough-feeling clothes after washing
• Your kettle or coffee machine needing constant descaling

If you’ve noticed a few of these, hard water might be the reason.

So What’s the Cost?

Hard water doesn’t break things right away. It can cause slow damage until it eventually builds up.

And that damage costs you in three big ways:

1.Higher Energy Bills

Appliances clogged with limescale have to work harder. That means using more power to get the same job done and increasing your bills.

2. More Repairs

Parts wear out faster. Things clog. Filters need changing more often.

3. Shorter Appliance Lifespan

A hot water system can last 10–15 years, depending on the model. But if it’s being damaged by limescale, it can have a shorter lifespan of nearly 2 years.

There is no one fixed price for what hard water can do to you. It depends on how often you clean your appliances, how hard your water is, or whether you’ve got any other issues at the same time. But with clogged drains, higher energy bills, repairs for appliances, and shorter lifespans – you can appreciate how much this can add up for an individual.

How Can You Fix It?

You don’t have to live with hard water damage. There are a few easy ways to prevent it:

Install a Water Softener

This is the most effective long-term solution. A water softener removes calcium and magnesium from the water and replaces them with sodium or potassium. This stops limescale from forming in the first place.

You can get:

• Whole-house systems, which protect all your appliances
• Or under-sink units, for just your kitchen or bathroom

Descale Regularly

Appliances like kettles, coffee machines, and dishwashers need to be descaled. If you want to learn about how to descale a coffee machine, Nespresso has a good article on it.

Use Hard Water Detergents

Some washing powders and dishwasher tablets are made specifically for hard water areas. They can help neutralise the minerals and reduce residue. 

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to see hard water to know it’s there. If your appliances are acting up, water pressure is low, or things are wearing out too fast—it might not be bad luck. It could be your water.

Whatever the cause, we can help you out. Get in touch for a free quote, or feel free to ask us any questions. We’ll help you figure out what’s going on, and how to protect your home.

Let’s make your plumbing something you’re proud of!