Everything You Need to Know About Water in Your Home
Water is one of the most essential utilities in your home, necessary to keep things running smoothly and ensure maximum comfort. However, there are ways in which it can complicate life further if you do not keep a watchful eye. For example, too much pressure can cause leaks, which lead to property damage, or the water can be unsanitary and unsafe to drink due to hard chemicals in the pipes, amongst other problems. There are so many ways in which negligence or lack of knowledge can quickly turn things sour. If you’re a homeowner and want to learn more about keeping the water supply safe, then read on for more information.
Annual Testing
Many people don’t realize that any water supply is vulnerable to contamination, and regular testing is the only way to keep you safe. You also might not realize that if you live in an area prone to flooding, the water might be contaminated. Experts recommend regular testing of the water quality, which checks for coliform bacteria, nitrates, iron, water hardness, and other potential contaminants. Getting the water tested is fairly simple; as the helpful guides from KeepTheWaterFlowing.net demonstrate, all you have to do is purchase a kit from a hardware store or an online shop, and follow the instructions. The process is fairly simple; the kit basically allows you to cull a sample and mail it to a local testing facility, which will then contact you with the results.
Check Your System
While you’re at it, it’s highly recommended that you also test the home’s pipes and the water system in its entirety. This is another maintenance check that can be performed annually, and it is fairly cost-efficient, costing perhaps one hundred or two hundred dollars in total. The point of this routine check is to look for any signs of settling and cracking that might expose your water supply to harmful contaminants. If you do this often enough, it might save you money in the long run by preventing major repairs down the line.
Smell Your Water
Yes, you read that right. Your water should have absolutely no smell, but it can sometimes end up smelling a bit like spoilt eggs, which is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas. In this case, a countertop filter can help you fix the problem right away. You can also find a contractor who will help inspect everything in your pipes and identify the culprit right away.
Combat Hard Water
Hard water is high in mineral content that sits on different surfaces and soaks in, leaving horrid, colored build-up. In order to get rid of it, you need to use a water softener that helps combat the high mineral content. This process typically involves a brine tank that utilizes salt to maintain a healthy amount of minerals in the water. This tank might need to be replaced each month, depending on how heavy your water usage is. Also, as you may know by now, hard water leaves orange or yellow water stains in your sinks, toilets, and even the shower tiles. You can get rid of most stains by simply using a squeegee before they set in, o, scrub it away using a combination of baking soda and vinegar.
Choosing a Water Filter
Before you choose a water filter for your home, it helps to know what kinds of chemicals you are exposed to in your area. Based on that information, you can choose a pitcher filter – which only removes the lightest of contaminants – or a faucet mount filter that helps to rid you of the heaviest and most damaging bacteria. Another good choice is a countertop filter since it doesn’t take up space under your sink, and you can install it without the help of a plumber.
Increase Water Pressure
If you have an inefficient showerhead, you’re not alone. Few things can be worse for your hair or skin than poor water pressure. Luckily, this can be an easy fix since replacing the showerhead is pretty simple, but you should start by cleaning out the shower nozzle and filter first to get rid of mineral deposits. If you prefer purchasing a new one, then find whichever model is suitable for you, whether it is a handheld showerhead or a dual one with customizable water flow that can also act as a massager for your tired muscles. In all cases, fixing the water pressure tends to be a fairly straightforward matter.
All in all, it is important to keep an eye on the water efficacy in the home and make sure that it is safe to use. Most of this all comes down to regular maintenance and paying attention to the little details that might go unnoticed easily, potentially causing more damage in the long run. A few simple tweaks should get things running smoothly in little to no time.
