Hard Water in Newmarket: What It Does to Plumbing

Topic

hard water Newmarket

For

Newmarket homeowners

Need a hand?

(365) 990-3021

The reason it counts

York Region draws water from a mix of sources, including groundwater wells and treated Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe water, and the blend varies between communities. Many homes in and around Newmarket receive water that is considered moderately hard to hard. Private wells across the region can be harder still. The Region publishes water quality reports, and your own water utility can tell you the hardness at your address.

Hard water leaves mineral scale wherever it is heated or evaporates. You see it as white crust on taps and shower heads, spotty glasses from the dishwasher and a ring in the kettle. You do not see the scale building inside the water heater, the tankless heat exchanger or the supply lines, but it is there too.

Steps, in order

What hard water does to your plumbing

• Water heaters collect scale at the bottom of the tank, which acts like a blanket between burner and water, burns extra gas and makes the tank rumble or pop.
• Tankless heaters lose output as scale coats the heat exchanger. Regular descaling is part of owning one.
• Faucets and valves wear faster as scale scratches cartridges and seals, leading to drips.
• Shower heads and aerators clog, reducing flow and spraying unevenly.
• Appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines work harder and need more detergent.

What you can do

1. Find your hardness. Check your municipality's water report or use a simple test strip. Well owners can have a lab test done.
2. Descale aerators and shower heads. Leave them overnight in vinegar every few months to dissolve scale.
3. Flush the water heater. Running off a few litres from the bottom of the tank once a year removes loose sediment.
4. Consider a softener. A water softener removes hardness minerals before they reach your fixtures, protecting the whole house.
5. Consider filtration for drinking water. A softener is not a filter. If taste or other contaminants are a concern, add a filtration system at the kitchen tap or for the whole home.

Ringing for help

Call when you are ready to install a softener or filter, when your water heater is noisy or slow to heat, or when faucets drip despite new washers. A plumber can size a softener to your household, place it with a proper drain and bypass, and leave outdoor taps on unsoftened water for the garden.

Homes near Fairy Lake and across Newmarket see the same effects. Our circular on reading your water meter helps if you want to track usage after a softener goes in. If you are planning other work, such as a gas line for a new heater, we can plan it at the same visit. Call (365) 990-3021.