What is hard water?
Hard water contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium – two
minerals that cause the soapy scum on glasses and lime residue on bathroom fixtures. While suitable for drinking and gardening,
hard water can cause mineral build-up in water heaters, pipes, dishwashers and showerheads, reducing its flow. Soap and shampoo’s
ability to lather is reduced, and laundry becomes stiffer and duller in appearance.
What are the benefits of a water softener?
A water
softener reduces water hardness, making it easier to shower and clean fabrics and dishes. With softened water, less soap is
needed for bathing and laundry. Skin feels cleaner and clothing softer.
Pipes, fixtures and appliances have less scale build-up. With less build-up, appliances can operate efficiently
and, there are fewer deposit stains on bathroom fixtures.
Why do I get a rotten egg or sulfer smell
from my hot water?
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a dissolved gas that gives water a characteristic "rotten egg" taste and or odor.
It corrodes piping, creates odors in the house, and turns water black. H2S can cause odor problems at a concentration level as low as 0.05 mg/L.
H2S in water heaters
Sometimes
H2S may only be present in the household hot water. This condition is
caused by a biochemical reaction between sulphates in the water, sulphate reducing bacteria, a magnesium rod (anode rod) in
the hot water heater or organic matter in the water. If the odor problem in the water heater is caused by heat loving sulphate
reducing bacteria, disinfect the water heater with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes the reaction with the magnesium
rod is the cause of odor problem. The purpose of the magnesium rod is to prevent corrosion of the water heater. Removing the
magnesium rod will often prevent the odor problem, but will void the warranty and lead to the possible earlier deterioration
of the tank. If corrosion is a concern, the magnesium rod can be replaced with a zinc rod. Try disinfecting the tank with
chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide first before using any of the more drastic measures.
If you are concerned
about the above problem, it is suggested that you seek a professional to assist you with the fore-mentioned remedies.
How can I tell if I have
a leaky toilet?
Your toilet flushes just fine, but it doesn't
know when to quit. Perhaps it stops running and then starts up again suddenly, or maybe it flushes
by itself. Either way, it's wasting a lot of water and making that noise that keeps you up at night. Compared with
a clogged toilet, tank troubles can seem relatively insignificant. Yet the average running toilet can waste as much as 40
gallons of water a day, costing you the homeowner a lot of money, so it should be fixed as soon as possible. The best way
to spot toilet leaks is to put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Wait a few minutes, if the color begins to
show up in the toilet bowl - you have a leak.
What is
a water hammer?
Water hammer is
a very loud banging, knocking or hammering noise in the pipes that occurs when the flow is suddenly turned off. It is
caused by a pressure or shock wave that travels faster than the speed of sound through the pipes, brought on by a sudden stop
in the velocity of the water, or a change in the direction. It's also been described as a rumbling, shaking vibration
in the pipes.You might hear water hammer when the clothes washer stops filling, the sprinkler system shuts off or
shifts to another zone, when the dishwasher changes wash cycles, or when a faucet is turned off suddenly. It exerts very
great instantaneous pressures that can reach excesses of 1000 psi and over time can potentially damage the system.
