Over time, the minerals present in hard water, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, will leave a hard lime scale inside your plumbing. This happens gradually as the water evaporates, and is accelerated when water is heated. The more scale buildup, the more water flow is restricted, and the more energy required to heat your water. Hard water can leave stains on sinks and tubs, and may eventually plug up pipes, hot water tanks, faucets, dishwashers and other appliances. Left untreated, the residue can cause premature failure of plumbing fixtures and devices. Yet, removing this scale is often difficult and costly. The best solution is to eliminate the hard water problem, so that scale doesn't continue to build up, or never has a chance to get started. There are many devices that will soften your water, the most common being the ion exchange system, a softener that uses salt. If you don't want salt added to your water, there are other conditioners that work without sodium or chemicals. For more details on treating hard water and protecting your plumbing, contact a water conditioning company.
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