Get matched with top water softener pros in Holstein, IA

The most accurate way to determine whether you have hard water is to purchase a water test kit from a hardware store or send a tap water sample to a lab. But there are some signs you can look out for without professional testing. For instance, if you're consistently dealing with mineral stains on your glassware, windows, and shower doors, you're likely to have hard water. Hard water can also make it harder to lather and rinse soap, so if you're struggling to work up a good lather in the shower, hard water might be the culprit.

A water softener removes minerals from your drinking water and can make your house water softer. These softeners are designed to extend the lifetime of your plumbing system while also making water safer and more palatable for drinking. Hard water, which is water with a heavy amount of suspended particles, can also cause hair damage, skin irritation, and buildup in your pipes.

Most of the U.S. has hard water, especially across portions of the West and Midwest. The areas with the hardest water include parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Illinois, North and South Dakota, Ohio, and New York. You’ll find soft water in parts of New England, the Southeast, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii.

While not everyone can detect taste differences in high-calcium water, water that has a slightly metallic taste probably has too much calcium.