What is Hard Water?
Hard water is simply water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. Hard water is common in many parts of Reno/Sparks and the Gardnerville area, and hardness can vary by neighborhood and season. While it’s safe to drink, it can be tough on your home and your body over time.
One of the biggest issues is scale buildup. As hard water heats up or evaporates, it leaves mineral deposits behind inside pipes, fixtures, and appliances. That crusty white buildup you may see on faucets can also form inside your plumbing system, slowly restricting flow and increasing wear. Hard water is especially rough on water heaters: scale collects on heating elements and tank surfaces, which can reduce water heater efficiency and drive up energy costs. You might notice it takes longer to get hot water, or your system seems to work harder than it should.
Hard water can affect comfort, too. Many homeowners notice dry skin after showering, along with dull hair and soap that doesn’t lather well. If your towels feel stiff or your dishes come out spotty, hard water could be the culprit.
How do Water Softeners Work?
A whole-home water softener is a treatment system installed where water enters your house, so it softens the water for every faucet, shower, and appliance—not just one sink. Its main job is to remove the “hardness” minerals (calcium and magnesium) that cause scale buildup, spotting, and that dry, tight-skin feeling after bathing.
Most whole-home softeners work through a process called ion exchange. Inside the softener is a resin tank filled with small beads that are charged with sodium (or sometimes potassium). As hard water flows through the tank, the resin beads attract and hold onto the calcium and magnesium ions and release sodium/potassium in their place. The result is “soft” water that’s far less likely to leave mineral deposits in your plumbing or on fixtures.
Over time, the resin beads become saturated with hardness minerals. That’s when the system goes through a regeneration cycle: it flushes a saltwater brine solution through the resin to rinse away the collected minerals and “recharge” the beads with sodium/potassium again. This process happens automatically on a schedule or based on water use, depending on the model.
The payoff is real: less scale in pipes and water heaters, better efficiency for hot water equipment, cleaner dishes, softer towels, and improved comfort for skin and hair.
If you’re dealing with hard water in Hoffman Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electrical’s service area, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a water quality test and explore water softener options for your home.