There are a few ways to answer “how do I know if there’s hard water in my area?”
2. Look for signs of hard water in my area
At WaterSmart, we have almost 30 years of experience in the water softener and plumbing industry and we'd love to share our expertise with you. Contact us today.
Source: Softener Buyers Guide
Waterloo region has very hard water. Our water experts can help determine your level.
3 Ways to Check For Hard Water In My Area
1. Test for water hardness
Here’s a simple test to check your home’s water hardness level.
STEP 1: FILL A CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLE WITH YOUR TAP WATER
Find any clear plastic bottle that can hold 360 ml or more.
It's best to use a container that has a lid you can screw on - an empty water bottle for example.
Add 360 ml of tap water into the bottle.
STEP 2: ADD LIQUID SOAP TO YOUR CONTAINER
Add 10 drops of liquid hand soap to your container.
We found that castile soap works the best for this test if you have it, but you can use other types of handsoap as well.
STEP 3: SHAKE YOUR CONTAINER
Once you've added your soap, screw the lid on tightly and shake the bottle for a few seconds.
If you don't have a lid, stir it up so the soap is completely mixed into the water.
STEP 4: CHECK FOR BUBBLES
If you have a lot of suds on top of your water, then your water is probably very soft.
If you only get a few bubbles on top, then continue on to Step 5.
STEP 5: ADD MORE SOAP - 5 TO 10 DROPS AT A TIME
Add 5 to 10 more drops of soap and shake your bottle again.
The number of additional drops will give you a good indication of how hard your water is:
Slightly Hard: 20 drops
Moderately Hard: 30 drops
Hard: 40 drops
Very Hard: 50 drops or more
Use a water bottle to check your home’s water hardness level
This obviously isn’t the most scientific and accurate of tests, but it will generally answer “how do I know if I have hard water in my area?”
You can buy a water hardness kit online that will tell you if you have a water hardness problem. These tests usually involve filling a small bottle with your tap water and adding a chemical to it, drop by drop.
The kits can cost anywhere from $20 to $60 dollars, so this free “test” is a good way to test without spending extra money.
2. Look for signs of hard water in my area
A simple eye and feel test can offer clear indicators that there’s hard water in my area.
They won't give you the exact water hardness level, but they can let you know that you have hard water:
white residue
The minerals in hard water can leave a white filmy residue in your sink, shower, or bathtub.
And if it's happening there, it's probably happening in your pipes as well.
Spotty Dishes
Hard water also affects your glasses and dishes. A white film or spots will be seen when they come out of the dishwasher.
This film is a thin layer of leftover soap or minerals from your hard water that sticks to your dishes after they have been cleaned.
Decrease in Water Pressure
You may also get a build-up of scale in your pipes that will eventually decrease your water pressure, especially in your hot water pipes.
Increase in Energy Bills
Scale build up in your hot water heater will make it less efficient. This is because scale is a poor conductor of heat.
Increase in energy usage and cost you more in energy bills.
Ineffective Showers
Hard water will leave behind a soapy film on your skin after showering which can also leave your skin feeling dry.
You may also find that your shampoo won't rinse out completely so your hair is left looking limp and dull.
shabby clothes
Soap scum that forms in hard water can cling to fabric, leaving it stiff and rough.
In severe cases, it might fail to clean the clothes completely, leaving white fabric grey and bright colours dull.
Worst case? Hard water leaves a sour odour on your clothes.
The shower is a great place to check if you have hard water.
3. Check with local experts
If you want the most accurate reading of your water hardness level, your local water company should be able to let you know how hard your water is.
The area that we serve has some of the hardest water in Canada. Hard water contains large amounts of dissolved calcium, magnesium and other minerals.
For reference, water hardness is measured in milligrams per litre (grains per gallon). The higher the number the harder your water is. If your water contains more than 121 mg/litre, then it is considered hard.
The water in the Waterloo region ranges from about 148 mg/L (8.7 grains per U.S. gallon) to 958 mg/L (56 grains per U.S. gallon).
The Region of Waterloo created a helpful water hardness map to get a reading of the water hardness in your neighbourhood.
Here at WaterSmart, we’ll test your water hardness level for you for free.
Bring us a sample of your water and we’ll gladly take a look for the most accurate and up-to-date reading.
Hard Water In My Area? We Can Help
We can help you install a water softener that can handle the challenges of your area.
Choosing a water softener that has been designed for the hard water of this region is a good investment.
WaterSmart water softeners are specifically designed to handle the hard water issues in Waterloo.
WaterSmart offers free installation when you purchase a new water softener, and you can take advantage of our financing option to make things more manageable.
The experts at WaterSmart know how to program your new water softener so that it works best to soften your water efficiently.
“I went here for a second opinion and to have my water hardness tested after terrible service (and multiple visits) from another company. This place has unbelievable customer service. Very knowledgeable and informative, not to mention generous with their time. They truly went above and beyond and sent me home with a zero-dollar bill -and the knowledge needed to fix my water softener”
