Hard Water Problems in Your Dishwasher? We Have Solutions

More than 90% of US homes have some kind of contamination in their water, which means you’re probably included in that group. And one of the most common water problems of all is called hard water, which is caused by high levels of magnesium and calcium.

There are two good things about hard water: it’s not harmful to your health and it’s easy to detect, thereby making giving you ample time and opportunity to have the problem corrected before hard water does any harm to your pipes and even your dishwasher.

How would you even know if hard water is negatively impacting your dishwasher? One of the first signs would be spotting or cloudiness on your dishes and glasses. That happens because hard water prevents soap from lathering to its full potential – the same thing can happen inside your washing machine.

Over time, magnesium and calcium deposits can start collecting in at the bottom of your dishwasher in the form of white layer of crust.

Here’s how to respond to hard water inside your dishwasher.

• Add more detergent. If you have an immediate need for better performance from your dishwasher, try adding more detergent to compensate for less-than-perfect lathering caused by hard water. If you still have your owner’s manual, it might even advise you on how much more to use.

• Add a rinse aid. Rinse aids are designed specifically to combat the spottiness and streaking that hard water causes.

• Run your dishwasher with nothing but vinegar. Put a cup of vinegar on the top rack with nothing else in your dishwasher, and then run it for a full cycle. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the white scaly matter gone once the cycle is completed.

Still, the best and most complete response to hard water conditions anywhere in your home is a water softening system from Your 1 Plumber. A whole-house water softener will provide numerous benefits and save you a bundle of money on cleaning and personal hygiene products. It will also help protect your water pipes and appliances from internal corrosion for even greater savings. For more information or to request a free quote, contact Your 1 Plumber today.