When you purchase a new house, you are not always aware of the home?s inner workings. This is especially true of the plumbing and water system. While the initial home buying inspection can alert you to any major concerns, it does not usually include a water quality test. Although most homes are on city water sources, this does not mean that your water is entirely safe for consumption. A home water test can identify the following concerns.
Hard water
Hard water is actually fairly common. Most cities and states do not require that hard water be softened before sending it to the city?s residents. Hard water is generally caused by a buildup of calcium and magnesium salts. Most sources of water have some levels of magnesium and calcium present, but hard water has higher contents. Hard water is usually identified by chronic water stains and even the breakdown of certain sinks and faucets. Water softener is needed to remove the hard water.
Extremely hard water should be taken care of with a water treatment system. Excessive amounts of hard water in drinking water can be bad for your overall health. Up to 85% of American households currently are affected by hard water. You may even notice a difference in your home?s energy efficiency from hard water sources. For gas meters, every 5 grains per gallon of hardness causes an 8% loss in efficiency, and an 8% increase in cost when using 100 gallons of hot water per day.
Chlorine
Minimal amounts of chlorine are added to drinking water to remove bacteria and other harmful contaminants. The problem occurs when too large of amounts are added that make the drinking water unsafe. Large amounts of chlorine can lead to a variety of diseases and health effects. You can usually identify the amount of chlorine in your water with a home testing kit. If you find that your chlorine content is too high, you will want to schedule a chlorine removal procedure from a qualified water testing company.
Contaminated water
Some water sources contain too many contaminates to be consumed. This is common in cities that do not use chlorine in the water or in homes with personal well water sources. A reverse osmosis process is used to remove the harmful contaminants from the drinking water. Although contaminated water is not generally visible to the human eye, you are likely to notice an off taste to the water source. This could stop you from drinking recommended amounts of water. Home water testing kits can measure the level and contents of contaminants in your drinking water.
The importance of healthy drinking water
Water is a necessity. It is important that your house is equipped with healthy drinking water. Many Americans are dehydrated on a regular basis and are not even aware of it. Dehydration can have a noticeable effect if you lose as little as 2% of your body?s water content. However, it is not uncommon for athletes to lose up to 6 to 10% of their water weight via sweat. This just means that they need additional amounts of water to replenish what has been lost. When you move into a new house, it is important to test the new drinking water source. You use water for many different aspects in the house, but most importantly, in your body.
You will come across many unexpected surprises as a homeowner. The home buying process does not reveal all aspects of the home, including its water contents. Once you move into a new house, you will want to run a home water test kit. This will give you a better idea of what is in your current drinking water source. Obtaining this information can ensure that you and your family have a healthy and safe drinking source.
