One thing many people notice right away when they move to Arizona is the hard water. Arizona water is so rich in mineral content that some stream bottoms actually build up over time, rather than erode. Minerals are good for your body, but they can really cause issues in your tap water. The best option to deal with the Arizona hard water is to outfit your home with a whole-house softener, but if you choose not to, these tips can make life a little easier.
1. Drink purified Water
Although the water in most Arizona communities is safe to drink from the faucet, you may not like the taste. Alternatives include buying bottled water at the store or refilling your own jugs at grocery or convenience stores. If you’re not interested in lugging bottles around, consider filtering your tap water or installing a reverse osmosis system.
2. Choose mineral-friendly surfaces for your home
When choosing the surfaces and fixtures for your home, think about how they may react to hard water. If drops are left on a dark colored counter to dry, the minerals stay behind as a white residue. Same is true with a black, or bronze, faucets. Install white or light colored countertops, tubs and shower stalls accented with chrome fixtures. You’ll hardly notice the deposits between cleanings. Frosted shower doors conceal spots better than clear glass. Either way, wipe the drops away with a soft rubber squeegee each time you shower.
3. Protect your appliances, and the things you put in them
Left unchecked, Arizona hard water can take a toll on the pumps, hoses and seals in your clothes and dish washing machines. Thankfully, a few household product makers have figured out how to defend your appliances with solutions that neutralize the damaging effects. Some Arizonans run CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust remover through their machines periodically to remove minerals. Lemishine is a popular citrus-based product folks use in their dishwashers to prevent dulling of dishes and silverware. Try washing your car with them for a spot-free shine.
4. Prepare for additional maintenance in the yard
Unless your Arizona yard is completely desertscaped, it’s inevitable that hard water will present you with a few challenges outside your home. You can expect the mineral deposits to clog up the tiny moisture emitters in your irrigation or misting system over time. Even pop-up sprinkler heads made with brass fittings are prone to clogging. Keep a few replacement parts on hand to keep the system running like new. If you have a pool, watch for calcium buildup around the water line and be ready to take action with chemicals or a pumice stone.
Arizona living is mostly good, but there are a few drawbacks, like dealing with hard water. You can alleviate many of the issues by installing a water softener or following the tips above.
[Image: By Bbypnda (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]
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