The hardness of the water. How to determine home water hardness? Methods, recommendations and reviews

On TV now and then flashed the message on the properties of hard water and its harm not only for appliances, but also of the organism as a whole. What is this water and why is it called hard? If you bump into the scientific facts and to resort to the help of the special literature, it becomes clear that the degree of rigidity determines the ions of calcium and magnesium. The less you have, the softer and healthier water. And here fairly raises the question of how to determine water hardness in the home.

Why do it

Before you can solve the problem, you need to understand, and do I need to know what water hardness is, how to identify at home her degree and what to do in case of its excess.

Undoubtedly, each makes an independent decision, but just look at the consequences of the use of excessively hard water, and everything just falls into place.

What causes hard water

Every year appliances suffers from scale, resulting in an excess of salts in water, which means its efficiency is reduced on average by 20 %.

Because Of accumulated lime scale heating appliances have difficulty in the heat. Begin to grow electricity costs.

Require more cleaning, therefore slowing the process of foaming and loss of effectiveness for contaminant removal.

Engaging in communications detergents shampoos and shower gels, hard water forms an invisible film on the body, can cause irritation and dryness.

In connection with the foregoing, the determination of water hardness in the home is not just an interesting pastime and one of the steps on the path to health.

A Little history

Do you Know why water is called hard or soft? This concept originated from ancient times when was used for washing soap, containing fatty acids. Entering into communication with tissue, they made it stiff to the touch. Another version is the ability of participation of the fibers in ion-exchange processes. Interacting with water, they give the effect of hard tissue.

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So how to determine water hardness at home?

Methods

1. The easiest and fastest way to verify, Housewives, is an ordinary tea. Enough to brew leaf tea, to give it time to steep and after a few minutes to look at its hue. If the water is hard, it will dull and dark. In soft water the tea gets a light orange color.

You can Also compare the weight of the water. Hard water is more difficult. But for such experiments will require high-precision scales. The usual is unlikely to show the subtle difference in weight.

2. Detergents can also help to know the hardness of the water. How to determine at home this value with the help of improvised means? Very simple! Only need to lather the hands.

Soap foams instantly? Well, it means that the salt content in the water is minimal. But if the foam formation is delayed, so you should think about water quality.

3. By the way, the soap will become an assistant in determining the degree of rigidity, if it crumble into the water. Undissolved particles will testify to the excessive content of calcium and magnesium.

And even how to measure water hardness at home? Among the reviews about the quality of water can be found the above way to determine its no worse a special instrument. However, have it a little harder and make some calculations.

So, we will need economic 72 % soap, purified bottled regular water from the tap.

We Find the soap is a cross-sectional view and collect chips. We need just 1 gram. Heated distilled water (about ten ml) and add to it the soap flakes. After that, fill every vessel with water. Half a litre will be enough. Take the syringe and add 1 ml of soapy water in a vessel with clean water, not forgetting every time they stir. To stop this manipulation is needed after the emergence of persistent bubbles.

Now answer the question of how to know the water hardness in the home. Determine how many ml of soap solution was spent. The obtained data multiply by 2. The result will be hardness.

4. Note how often the calcification on the kettle. The more often this happens the more composed of water salts as well as calcium and magnesium, which contribute to the formation of plaque.

5. Have you ever noticed that the spray on the glass dries to leave white marks?

This is another manifestation of water hardness.

6. Great assistant in this task will be the ordinary potassium permanganate. Contacting hardness, salts, potassium permanganate gets a yellow tinge. If this did not happen, with the water all right.

7. You can use a special test that identifies the hardness of the water.

How to determine home a result, prompt individual instruction. Often enoughto lower the tester into the water, wait a few seconds and observe the change painted stripes.

How to soften water

So, way to know how hard water, pretty much. If you found that the water quality does not suit you, then use some tips.

1. The most famous method used by all, without thinking about the real purpose of this is boiling water. Enough to boil the water for one hour and then let it cool down as a precipitate at the bottom. In the future, remove it by straining. Of course, in such a way to get rid of salts will not succeed, but to soften the water possible.

2. To neutralize the salt can be alkali, which is contained in the soda. ¼ teaspoon per Cup of water - and the hardness is significantly reduced. Many have tested it in practice!

3. The alkali can be replaced with almond bran. They are the end product of processing the seeds of almonds. Tablespoon in a glass of water is enough.

4. The simplest option is to buy a special filter. However, a survey of user-based reviews have shown that efficiency in the use of filters is not observed. Moreover, it is necessary to constantly monitor the water purification system and periodically change some of the elements. It often happens that in a timely manner to do this is not possible, and the harmful substances again be in the water.

Conclusion

Now you know what water hardness is, how to determine the home conditions and the degree to mitigate with available tools. Undoubtedly, in matters of drinking water quality is worth to trust professional development: special strips or measuring device that indicates the number of hard salts. However, if such a possibility is not, then the problem can be solved independently from the comfort of home.