Where you see it
- White crust on faucets, showerheads and glass
- Spots on dishes and film on shower doors
- Soap and shampoo that do not lather well
- Popping or rumbling from a tank water heater
Where it does damage
Heat makes scale form faster, so water heaters take the worst of it: sediment builds up in tanks and on elements, and tankless heat exchangers scale up and lose output. Faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves and appliance valves also wear sooner.
What helps
A water test confirms how hard the water is. A softener removes the hardness minerals. Regular water heater flushing and descaling of tankless units limit the damage where softening is not installed.