How to Treat Your Water for Iron, Magnesium and Calcium

When water contains iron, magnesium and calcium, it is called hard water. The presence of these elements are responsible for mineral buildup and scaling on bathroom and kitchen sinks and appliances. Hard water leaves soap scum in the bath tub and makes it difficult to lather shampoo. In fact, people with hard water must use more laundry detergent, soap and shampoo than those with soft water. Hard water leaves residue on the skin and hair and also damages your clothes. With the installment of an ion exchange water softener, it is possible to treat your water for these minerals.

Things You'll Need

• Ion exchange water softener
• Sodium
• Water test

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Instructions

Treating Hard Water

• 1

  Have your water tested for iron, magnesium and calcium. The results will indicate how much of the elements exist either in parts per million or milligrams per liter. Moderately hard water ranges from 61 milligrams per liter to very hard water at 180+ milligrams per liter.

• 2

  Decide the type of water softener required: manual, semi-automatic or automatic. Manual water softeners require the owner to add sodium and set the recharge switch. The semi-automatic will use the sodium as required but needs the owner to set the recharge switch; this option is appropriate for moderately hard water. The automatic water softener has an automatic recharging feature and monitors water usage.

• 3

  Determine the location of the water you wish to soften. Will you want to soften both the cold and hot water and inside and outdoor water sources? Perhaps there will be some areas of the house that do not require soft water.

• 4

  Decide if you will rent or own the water softener. Renting the unit will cover the installation and maintenance. If you purchase your own unit, hire a professional contractor to install the water softener to ensure it is set up properly and safely.