The Water Hardness Test Kit

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People are always worried about their homes and how it is holding up. One of the things that they are always concerned about is their water supply. For many people, a common complaint that they have is that they have hard water. This can pose difficulties for them and they need to know if they have hard water so that they can deal with it in a better way.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water is a common problem for many homeowners. This type of water is high in calcium and in magnesium. Whereas hard water is not a health concern, it is a problem with build-up and leaving stains, especially in sinks and toilets. Another problem with hard water is that it isn't as good as soft water when it comes to cleaning clothes and dishes. It is necessary to use more soap to create a sudsy environment that offers cleanliness. This is why homeowners complain about having hard water. It can also cause a scale buildup in water pipes, boilers, and other equipment that may or may not pose a problem for the homeowner.

Tests For Hard Water For Homeowners

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If you want to have your water tested by a laboratory, you may do this. You will need to take a water sample and send it away to a lab. It can take quite a bit of time but it is an accurate way to determine if you have hard water. It may also cost you money that you don't want to spend. Sometimes, it can be expensive to deal with a lab in order to get the results that you will need to determine if you have hard water or not.

There are other tests that you can do yourself on hard water and they are not as expensive. Here is a list of them to help you with the process of testing your water:

1. Testing With Soap Suds

When you are going to test your water with the soap suds test, you will find that the results are pretty good. It will assist you in finding out if you have hard or soft water. This test will let you know this in a very easy manner. It is relatively easy for you to do. You will need to find a bottle that has a cap on it. Fill the bottle only a third of the way up. This is usually 6 - 8 ounces. You will next want to put about 10 drops of dishwashing liquid into the bottle. Shake the mixture for up to 10 seconds. If you notice that there are lots of suds and the water below the line of suds is clear, then you have soft water. If not, you have hard water.

2. DIY Tests

There are plenty of different tests that are available online or in retail stores. You will want to make sure that the tests check for the hardness of the water. Make sure that you are getting one from a reputable retailer because it can make a huge difference in the testing of the water. Some tests will only check for the presence of radon so be sure to check and make sure that it will test for hard water. Read the instructions well so that you are doing the test properly. You want to make sure that you get the correct results when you need them. It is important that you follow the instructions as they are written for it to be an accurate account based on the water in your home.

3. Wet Strip Test

The wet strip test is a pretty accurate one. It is one that you will be able to do easily when you follow the instructions that it comes with. This is a test that people use for their spas, swimming pools, and hot tubs. You will want to use tap water and insert the strip into it. The kit that this test comes with will allow you to read the results easily after you take the strip out of the water. It is easy to check the chart to see if you have hard water. There are color sections for you to match the test strip to the level that your water is showing from the test results.

4. Run The Numbers

You can call your utility company in order to find out about your water. These reports deal with water quality.

You will be able to determine if you have hard water from the information that they have. They will sometimes put reports out online so that you can look this up easily. When doing this, you will need to know about the various levels. For soft water, you will get a reading of between 0 - 60 mg/L. Hard water reads at 121 - 180 mg/L and very hard water levels read at over 180 mg/L.

Cleaning For Hard Water Homes

You may need to find a really good cleaning when you have hard water in your home. It can leave rings in the toilet bowl especially. A good cleaner will work to remove the hard water stains that are embarrassing to say the very least. There are also a number of ways that you will be able to clean well. There are plenty of DIYs listed online. Be sure that you try out the safer ones to be sure that you are not damaging your home in any way.

If you are wondering what type of water you have hard or soft, use the information above to help you. It will give you a good idea of how to complete your daily chores in a much better way. Once you are aware of the water that you have, things will be much easier for you. Make sure that you are always taking great care of your home because it can make a huge difference in how it will look to you and the people you live with.