Updated on July 23, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a common question we hear from our customers: \u201cWhat causes this white buildup I see on my <\/span>pipes,<\/span> faucets, drains, and other fixtures?\u201d They usually follow up with: \u201cIs it serious? Can I do anything about it aside from scrubbing it away?\u201d <\/span>Let’s explore what causes this issue and the best ways to fix it.<\/span><\/p>\n That white buildup that often encrusts the surfaces of your fixtures is calcite residue from hard water. You may have heard about hard water <\/span>before, but you may not fully understand<\/span> what it means.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hard water generally refers to any water with a high mineral content. Specifically, it<\/span> refers to<\/span> water with large amounts of calcium-containing <\/span>minerals, such<\/span> as gypsum. The magnesium mineral dolomite, which also contains calcium, is another common mineral suspended in hard water.<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond the visible white <\/span>calcium buildup<\/span>, you can often tell you have hard water if your soaps and shampoos refuse to lather properly, leaving behind a sticky soap scum on your shower doors and tubs. You might also notice that your freshly washed clothes feel stiff and your glassware comes out of the dishwasher covered in spots. These are all common indicators that your home\u2019s water has a high mineral content.<\/span><\/p>\n The visible white <\/span>hard water buildup on pipes<\/span>, dishes, and other surfaces is <\/span>a result of<\/span> calcification from the minerals in hard water. Aside from looking ugly, this calcite will start to coat the inside of your pipes, <\/span>restricting water flow and increasing pressure within the plumbing until it erupts into a leak<\/span>. The calcification will also infiltrate your hot water heater (or boiler, if you use one) and leave limescale <\/span>deposits along the inside of the tank, which can significantly impair its performance<\/span>. Hard water will also damage components in your dishwasher and laundry.<\/span><\/p>\n Usually, these minerals pose no threat to your <\/span>health<\/span>: hard water may not taste as good as \u201csoft water,\u201d but it is rarely dangerous. However, it can cause trouble for your plumbing and any appliance hooked to it.<\/span><\/p>\n Hard water comes to you through the municipal water system, so the best way to combat it is through a <\/span>whole-house water treatment system<\/span><\/a> attached to the main line. Water softeners will filter out the excess minerals from hard water and rebalance the water with sodium. Installing a water softener of this size requires the work of professional plumbers.<\/span><\/p>\n Do not ignore the evidence of hard water in your home: it might be causing damage to your plumbing out of your sight. <\/span>The experienced plumbers at Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. will test your water and then offer solutions to the problem. We have experience with various types of water treatment systems, and we will determine the best solution to address your hard water issues<\/span>. <\/span>Schedule your appointment<\/span><\/a> to have a member of our team contact you about your water problems and provide a time for us to come out and address your hard water issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a common question we hear from our customers: \u201cWhat causes this white buildup I see on my faucets, drains, and other fixtures?\u201d They usually follow up with: \u201cIs it serious? Can I do anything about it aside from scrubbing it away?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[176],"tags":[309,80,310],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3261"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5177,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions\/5177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.modernpi.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Hard Water<\/span><\/h2>\n
What is Hard Water?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to Tell if You Have Hard Water<\/span><\/h3>\n
What Causes Hard Water?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Is Hard Water Bad For You?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How to Fix Hard Water?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Protect Your Plumbing with a Professional Solution<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/h3>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"