In Minnesota, water tends to be harder than average. That impacts everything from the lifespan of your appliances to the cleanliness of your glasses to the softness of your skin and hair. Because each community—and even each home—has its own hardness level, it can be useful to know where yours falls on the spectrum. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a straightforward, step-by-step guide on how to test water hardness in your home.
At A.J. Alberts, we’ve improved water quality throughout the Twin Cities metro area and Western Wisconsin for decades. We’ll give you our top tips on determining your water hardness. And when you’re ready to call in the pros, contact us for our signature quick, professional plumbing services.
What Is Water Hardness?
Before we jump into testing water hardness, let’s quickly clarify what it means. Water hardness refers to the concentration of minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium ions, present in your water. These minerals can naturally be found in groundwater sources and can affect the quality of your home’s water. While hard water is not a health hazard, if you’re concerned about it, you can check with your city government to receive a water quality report.
Water hardness is often measured in degrees of hardness, with grains per gallon (GPG) and milligrams per liter (mg/L) being standard units of measurement.
Why Test Water Hardness?
Understanding your water’s hardness level can have several benefits for homeowners:
Appliance Maintenance: Appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines can have a shorter lifespan thanks to the mineral buildup and limescale common with hard water.- Soap Efficiency: Knowing your water’s hardness allows you to adjust the amount of detergent and soap you use, ensuring more effective cleaning.
- Skin and Hair Care: Hard water can leave your skin feeling dry and your hair less manageable. Consider choosing different skincare and haircare products if your water is hard; soft water may require less moisturizing, while hard water may benefit from hydrating products.
- Plumbing Health: Excessive mineral buildup can lead to clogs and reduced water flow, ultimately reducing the health of your plumbing system.
- Determine Whether You Need a Water Softener: Many homeowners with hard water choose to install a water softener system to mitigate its negative effects.
How to Test for Hard Water at Home: A 5-Step Guide
Contrary to popular belief, it’s quick and straightforward to determine your home’s water hardness at home. Here’s one of the easiest methods:
1. Gather Your Supplies
Before you begin, find or purchase the following supplies:
- A clean, clear plastic or glass container with a lid (such as a clear plastic bottle or a glass jar)
- A clean, white dish or plate
- Liquid soap (dish soap or hand soap)
- A stopwatch or timer
2. Collect a Sample of Your Tap Water
Start by filling your clear container with tap water. Make sure it’s at room temperature; extreme hot or cold temperatures can affect the test’s accuracy.
3. Add Soap and Shake
Add a few drops of liquid soap to the water in the container. Seal the container with the lid and shake it vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds. The soap will create suds in the water.
4. Observe the Suds
Pour the soapy water onto the clean, white dish or plate and observe the suds closely. You’re looking to see if the suds linger for a long time or quickly dissipate or collapse.
5. Interpret the Results
You can determine the hardness or softness of your water by observing the bubbles that form when you add soap. If the bubbles stay for a while and don’t disappear quickly, your water is probably soft. If the bubbles start to dissipate but remain for a bit, your water may be moderately hard. But if the bubbles disappear quickly and the water appears clear, then your water is likely hard. So, watch those bubbles to learn more about your water!
Or, Purchase a Water Hardness Test Kit
For a more precise measurement of water hardness in GPG or mg/L, consider using a water hardness test kit. You can purchase a test kit, which often includes test strips or tablets and detailed instructions, online or at home improvement stores.
Understanding Water Hardness Levels
To help you further interpret your water hardness results, here’s a general scale:
- Soft Water: Typically measures below 3.5 GPG (or 60 mg/L). Soft water is gentle on skin and hair and is less likely to cause mineral buildup in appliances.
- Moderately Hard Water: Falls in the range of 3.5 to 7.0 GPG (or 61 to 120 mg/L). While not extremely hard, moderately hard water may still lead to some mineral buildup over time.
- Hard Water: Measures above 7.0 GPG (or 120 mg/L). Hard water can result in significant mineral deposits, requiring more soap and detergent to achieve satisfactory cleaning results.
What to Do with Your Water Hardness Knowledge?
Now that you’ve determined your water’s hardness level, what should you do with this newfound knowledge?
- Explore Water Softening Solutions: For homeowners with very hard water, investing in a water softener might be beneficial. These appliances can significantly reduce the hardness of your water. You’ll want to contact your local plumber to safely install a water softener.
- Adjust Detergent Use: If you have hard water, consider using slightly more detergent or soap for cleaning and laundry to ensure effective results.
- Appliance Maintenance: Regularly check for mineral buildup in appliances and water fixtures. Consider descaling appliances as needed to prevent efficiency loss.
Mastering Water Hardness Testing
Testing water hardness at home is a straightforward process that can provide valuable insights into the quality of your tap water. If you’d prefer, you can also call A.J. Alberts Plumbing to schedule a free water analysis and feel secure knowing your water has been evaluated by the pros.
Armed with this knowledge, you can make informed decisions about your cleaning routine, appliance maintenance, and even your skincare and haircare products. Whether your water is soft, moderately hard, or hard, there are steps you can take to ensure that it meets your needs and maintains the health of your household.
Get in touch with the friendly and expert plumbers at A.J. Alberts today. We’re happy to answer any questions about testing water hardness in your home – our goal is to make plumbing easy for you!
