Hard Water

If drinking glasses come out of the dishwasher with spots, or there's a film on the shower door, you probably have hard water. That doesn't mean your water is crunchy, it means your water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, specifically calcium and magnesium.

And while it's not a health risk, hard water can be a nuisance, as our homeowners outside Milwaukee learned. If left untreated over time, hard water can calcify, causing damage to plumbing fixtures and appliances. Here are some tips on softening your hard water problems:

• Use commercial cleaners to clear mineral deposits caused by hard water. These cleaners can be purchased at any supermarket or hardware store.
  
• Packaged water softeners can be used in dishwashers and washing machines to help hard water and soap mix properly.
  
• Water softeners can be attached to faucets and/or the incoming water line. Check the phone book for water softening and conditioning companies.

Shop around. Water softening units vary in price and need maintenance from time to time. But softer water could keep your plumbing fixtures from having a hard time.