//Glossary
Hard water
Water carrying dissolved calcium and magnesium. It leaves scale on fixtures, glassware and heating surfaces, shortens water heater life, and makes soap work less well. Hardness is measured by a water test, not guessed from a spot on a glass.
What does hardness do inside a water heater?
It settles as sediment in a tank and as scale inside a tankless heat exchanger, insulating the heating surface so the unit works harder and fails sooner. Softening the water or flushing the heater on a schedule are the two ways to manage it.
//At Done-Rite
Done-Rite offers water testing first and recommends equipment based on the result. Sometimes the answer is that you do not need anything.
Guides that use this term
- › Hydro jetting, explained: what it is and when a drain needs it
- › Tankless water heaters, explained: how they work and what the install involves
- › What a $150 water heater tune-up covers, and why sediment is the enemy
- › Hard water and water treatment basics: test first, then choose
- › Navien tankless water heaters: what to know before you choose one
- › Noritz tankless water heaters: what to know before you choose one
- › Rinnai tankless water heaters: what to know before you choose one
- › Navien vs Noritz vs Rinnai: choosing between the three tankless brands Done-Rite installs
- › Water softener vs whole-home filtration vs reverse osmosis: which problem each one solves
Related terms
//Open 6am to 7pm daily · 24/7 emergency
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