What Are the Flakes On My Shower Head and Faucets?
Have you ever seen white flakes on your shower head or faucet? At Ken's Plumbing and Heating, we know exactly what those white flakes are because we see them all of the time. And not only are they unsightly, but they can be a problem, too. It's a sign of hard water, and those deposits can slow down the water as it exits the faucet or shower head, creating a less pleasant experience. If you want to know more about what it is and how to get rid of it, keep reading.
What Are Hard Water Deposits?
The hardness or softness of your water is largely dependent on the area in which you live. Areas that have hard water are sourced from places that have a large amount of calcium and magnesium carbonates, which are picked up as the water passes through limestone and chalk in the earth. Your city filters out a lot of harmful impurities, but it doesn't filter out the calcium and magnesium. After you run your water, small amounts of water remain on the faucet or shower head, and over time, this causes calcium and magnesium buildup.
How to Get Rid of Hard Water Deposits on a Shower or Faucet Head
If you already have hard water deposits, one of the easiest ways to get rid of it is to use vinegar, which will break it down. Simply pour some vinegar into a plastic bag, then use a rubber band to secure the bag around the faucet or showerhead, ensuring that the entire head is submerged in the vinegar. Let it sit for at least a few hours, and a full day if possible. When you take the bag off, the deposits should be gone.
How Do You Prevent Hard Water Deposits?
Preventing hard water deposits in the future is fairly simple, too. To prevent the deposits, you have to make your water soft. To do this, you need a water softener. This device is often installed in the utility room next to the water heater. Once it's installed, you put salt in the water softener on a regular basis.
You don't have to put up with hard water, and there are a lot of benefits of having soft water. If you'd like someone to install a water softener for you, contact Ken's Plumbing and Heating today!