How to Determine if You Have Hard Water

In the U.S. about 85 percent of the homes have hard water. What is it? If your water contains too much dissolved calcium and/or magnesium, you have hard water. But how can you tell?

Instructions

- 1
  Look for clues that your water has an overabundance of minerals: Dishes will have water spots on them, your soap won't lather well, your white clothes will look dingy. You may also notice white, crusty sediment on your fixtures, a recurring bathtub ring, or rust-colored stains on your clothes, silverware, or porcelain fixtures. The not-so-obvious results of hard water are serious wear and tear on your water-dependent appliances.
- 2
  Contact your municipal water supply, or local department of health to direct you to a lab that will test your water hardness.
- 3
  Avoid home tests, which are expensive and have a tendency to be inaccurate.
- 4
  Call a water conditioning company such as Culligan to come to your home and test the water. You may have to listen to the sales pitch for a water softener, but the test is free.
- 5
  Look at your test results. If the water hardness is above 1 GPG (grains per gallon), your water is hard. (See Glossary)
- 6
  Consider mechanically softening your water if the test reveals a hardness of more than 3 GPG.

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