If you live in Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, or anywhere in the valley, your water is hard. Really hard. Phoenix water tests between 13 and 18 grains per gallon, which puts it in the "very hard" category on every scale that exists. The national average is about 5 GPG. That means Phoenix water has two to three times the mineral content of water in most other American cities.
Most people in Phoenix know something is off with their water. They see the white crusty stuff on their faucets. Their dishes come out of the dishwasher with spots. Their skin feels tight after a shower. Their shampoo barely lathers. These are all signs of hard water, and they are not just annoying. Over time, they cost you real money.
What Makes Water Hard
Hard water is just water that has picked up a lot of calcium and magnesium as it traveled through the ground. Phoenix gets most of its water from the Colorado River, the Salt River, and the Verde River. All three of those sources travel through rock and mineral-rich terrain. By the time that water reaches your tap, it is loaded with dissolved minerals.
The technical measure is grains per gallon, or GPG. Water is considered hard above 7 GPG. Very hard above 10.5 GPG. Phoenix sits between 13 and 18 GPG depending on the time of year and which part of the valley you live in. Some spots like Queen Creek, Buckeye, and areas near Glendale test even higher.
What Hard Water Does to Your Home
This is where it gets expensive. Those calcium and magnesium minerals do not just flow through your pipes and disappear. They stick to everything they touch.
Your water heater is the biggest victim. Scale builds up on the heating element and acts like insulation, forcing the heater to work harder to heat the same amount of water. Studies show that a water heater operating in Phoenix hard water conditions uses 20 to 29 percent more energy than it should. A water heater that should last 12 to 15 years fails in 6 to 8 years because of scale buildup. That is $1,000 to $1,800 you did not need to spend.
Your dishwasher and washing machine accumulate scale inside their pipes and pumps. The result is cloudy dishes, stiff laundry, and appliances that need more soap and more energy to do the same job. Phoenix homeowners spend around $220 a year more on detergent and cleaning products just because hard water requires more of everything to work.
Your pipes slowly narrow as scale builds up on the inside walls. Older homes in Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa often have noticeably reduced water pressure because of this. Once scale is established inside pipes it is very difficult to remove without professional help.
Your showerheads and faucets clog up with mineral deposits. The little holes that spray water get blocked, reducing flow and pressure. You can soak them in vinegar, but the scale just comes back because the water problem is not fixed.
What Hard Water Does to Your Skin and Hair
The minerals in hard water react with soap and shampoo. Instead of lathering up and rinsing clean, soap forms a sticky film when it mixes with calcium and magnesium. That film stays on your skin and hair after you rinse.
On your skin, this film can clog pores and strip away natural oils, leaving skin dry, itchy, and irritated. People with eczema or psoriasis often find their symptoms are noticeably worse in Phoenix than in cities with softer water. Kids with sensitive skin are especially affected.
On your hair, mineral buildup weighs it down and makes it look dull and flat. Hair color fades faster. It takes more conditioner to feel soft. Many Phoenix women spend extra money on clarifying shampoos, deep conditioners, and hair treatments that would not be necessary if their water was soft.
How to Know If You Have Hard Water
The simplest test is to look around your house. If you see any of these things, you have hard water:
- White or gray crusty buildup around faucets and showerheads
- Spots on glassware or dishes that come right out of the dishwasher
- Soap scum on shower walls and tubs that is hard to scrub off
- Skin that feels dry or tight after a shower
- Shampoo that barely lathers no matter how much you use
- Laundry that feels stiff or looks faded
If you want a real number, you can buy a water hardness test kit online for a few dollars. You dip a strip in your tap water and it changes color to show you where your water falls. Most Phoenix homes test between 13 and 17 GPG.
The Only Real Fix Is a Water Softener
Vinegar rinses, descaling tablets, and specialty shampoos are ways to deal with the symptoms. A water softener is the only way to fix the actual problem.
A water softener works through ion exchange. Water passes through a tank filled with resin beads. The beads attract the calcium and magnesium ions and hold on to them, releasing a small amount of sodium in their place. What comes out the other side is soft water that does not form scale, does not interfere with soap, and does not strip your skin and hair.
The difference after installation is immediate. Appliances last longer. Energy bills go down. You use less soap and shampoo. Your skin feels different within a week. Most Phoenix homeowners who install a softener say they wish they had done it years earlier.
At Louis Water Co, we size every softener to your specific home and your specific water. We test the water before we leave so you know it is working. Every installation comes with a Clean Water Guarantee.
Ready to stop letting hard water damage your home? Call us or fill out the form for a free quote. We serve Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the entire valley.