Hard water can damage appliances, dry out skin and hair, and make daily chores frustrating. Learn how water softeners, filtration systems, and reverse osmosis solutions can improve your home’s water quality, protect plumbing, and give your family cleaner, safer water every day.
At Five Star, we have three hard water solutions we offer for a safer and cleaner home. These options are: water softeners, water filtration and reverse osmosis systems. These water treatment solutions focus on removing excess minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water supply.
What Is Hard Water, and Why Does it Matter?
First, let’s talk about hard water and what exactly is in it. We all know that water is part of our daily routine, from drinking and cooking to cleaning and bathing. But what if the water flowing from your taps isn’t as clean or safe as you think? Many homeowners deal with hard water, contaminants, and plumbing issues without realizing the impact on their health and home.
Hard water is water with too many minerals, mostly iron, calcium, and magnesium. As water moves through rock and soil, it picks up these minerals. Plus, hard water is safe to drink, but it can cause plumbing problems, appliance wear, and skin irritation. Over time, minerals build up inside pipes, making them clog. It can also make water heaters work harder and leave stains on sinks, tubs, and dishes.
We know what you’re thinking. Why does this matter?
This is a big deal because hard water can leave behind scale buildup in pipes and appliances, lead to skin issues, and reduce the efficiency of your water heater and dishwasher. Some studies suggest that hard water may also contribute to minor digestive issues or hard water can make soap less effective at rinsing away bacteria. That’s why we stress the importance of raising the water quality in your home; utilizing a hard water solution is about more than comfort, it is about protecting both your home and your family’s health.
What are the Signs You Have Hard Water?
Homeowners should keep an eye out for the following. If you happen to notice any of these signs of hard water, it may be time to call a licensed plumber and look into some hard water solutions.
- White, chalky buildup on faucets and showerheads
- Spots on dishes and glassware after washing
- Soap that doesn’t lather well or leaves a sticky film
- Dry skin and brittle hair after showers
- Scale buildup inside dishwashers and coffee makers
What are Some Hard Water Solutions?
Knowing how hard water affects your home is the first step to fixing it. Now that you know what hard water is and what the signs are, let’s go over the hard water solutions that we offer.
1. Water Softeners
Hard water can be tough on your home, leaving behind stubborn spots on dishes, soap scum in showers, and scale buildup in your pipes and appliances. A water softener is your first line of defense. By removing the excess calcium and magnesium that cause hard water, it keeps your plumbing and appliances running smoothly while making everyday life easier. Your laundry comes out softer, your skin feels smoother, and your water-using appliances can last longer, all with less cleaning and maintenance.
Benefits of a Water Softener:
- Water softeners can help you save money on cleaning products
- Water softeners can improve the efficiency of your water heater
- Water softeners can help treat skin conditions
- Water softeners eliminate bad hair days
- Water softeners can help reduce cleaning time
- Water softeners lead to cleaner laundry & dishes
- Water softeners result in tastier food & drink
- Water softeners help protect your appliances
- Water softeners provide a more luxurious bathing/showering experience
- Water softeners will give you a streak-free car wash
Water Softeners are Best for Homes with Hard Water: If you notice white spots on dishes, soap scum in the shower, or your faucets have a chalky buildup, a water softener is your solution. It’s ideal for families dealing with hard water, helping protect plumbing and appliances, reduce cleaning time, and leave skin and hair feeling softer.
You can read a more in-depth guide about the benefits of water softeners here.
2. Water Filtration
While a softener tackles hard water minerals, water filtration takes your home’s protection a step further. A whole-home filtration system removes sediment, chlorine, and other impurities that can affect your water’s taste, smell, and safety. Clean, filtered water doesn’t just benefit your family; it also protects your plumbing from buildup and helps your water-based appliances work more efficiently. With filtration in place, every tap in your home delivers fresher, cleaner water you can feel good about using every day.
Benefits of Water Filtration:
- All-in-one protection for your home and health
- Improves taste, smell, and safety of water
- Reduces maintenance for appliances and fixtures
Water Filtration is Best for Improving Taste, Smell, and Overall Water Quality: Makes water cleaner and safer for the whole house, but does not remove the minerals that cause hardness unless paired with a softener. A whole-home water filtration is perfect for households that want fresher, cleaner water from every tap. It’s especially beneficial if your water has chlorine, sediment, or other impurities that affect how it smells and tastes. With filtration, you’ll enjoy better drinking water and cleaner water for cooking, laundry, and bathing.
3. Reverse Osmosis Systems
For the ultimate peace of mind, nothing beats a reverse osmosis system. This hard water solutions is an advanced filtration system that targets the tiny contaminants that standard filters can’t catch: like lead, arsenic, PFAS, and other dissolved solids, delivering water that’s clean, crisp, and great-tasting. It’s perfect for drinking, cooking, coffee, and ice. Plus, having RO water at home means less dependence on bottled water, saving you money and reducing plastic waste. It’s a simple, low-maintenance way to give your family safe, healthy water every day.
Benefits of a Reverse Osmosis System:
- Reverse osmosis systems eliminate unpleasant taste and odor
- Reverse osmosis systems boost your cooking experience
- Reverse osmosis systems filter additives and impurities
- Reverse osmosis systems are easy to use
- Reverse osmosis systems are economical
- Reverse osmosis systems are eco-friendly
Reverse Osmosis Systems are Best for Families Who Want Safe, Great-Tasting Drinking Water: A reverse osmosis system is ideal if you’re concerned about contaminants like lead, PFAS, or dissolved solids in your drinking water. RO provides pure, crisp water right from your sink for drinking, cooking, coffee, and ice, making it a simple solution for healthier water and less reliance on bottled water.
You can read a more in-depth guide about the benefits of reverse osmosis systems here.
Is Hard Water an Issue in Ohio?
Yes, hard water is a common challenge for many Ohio homeowners. Central Ohio’s water typically measures around 155 mg/L of hardness, which classifies it as hard to very hard water. This means your home may experience mineral buildup, dry skin, and appliance wear if left untreated.
Hard water doesn’t just leave spots on your dishes; it affects your entire home and your family’s comfort. Mineral buildup can shorten the life of your water heater, dishwasher, and washing machine, while leaving your skin and hair dry and dull. Investing in a hard water solution, like a water softener or whole-home filtration system, protects your plumbing and appliances, saves you time cleaning, and ensures your family enjoys softer, cleaner water every day.
Why Choose Five Star Home Services for Hard Water Solutions?
At Five Star Home Services, we specialize in water treatment solutions tailored to your home’s specific needs. Whether you need water testing, a filtration system, or a softener installation, we provide:
- Certified Plumbing Experts – Our licensed professionals offer trusted solutions for water quality issues.
- Customized Water Treatment Plans – Every home’s water is different, and we help you choose the best filtration or softening system for your needs.
- Top-Quality Products & Installation – We install high-efficiency water treatment systems that provide long-term protection for your home.
What are the Next Steps to Raising the Water Quality in My Home?
- Schedule your free water quality test with Five Star Home Services: After you contact us to schedule your free water quality test, our team will handle the testing, review your results, and guide you step by step toward cleaner, healthier water for your home.
- Choose the right hard water solution: Once you know your water quality, our plumbers will help select the system that best fits your needs, whether that’s a water softener, a whole-home filtration system, or a reverse osmosis system for safe, great-tasting drinking water.
Hard water solutions protect your home and family by removing excess minerals, improving water quality, and making everyday life easier. From preventing scale buildup to extending the life of your appliances, solutions like water softeners, whole-home filtration, and reverse osmosis systems provide cleaner, safer water you can trust.
Ready to take the first step toward cleaner, safer water today? Call us at (833) 405-8009 or schedule online for expert water testing and treatment services. We’re here to help Greater Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati homeowners find the best hard water solutions for a healthier home.
(Sean Moffett is the plumbing field manager for Five Star Home Services. Having worked in the plumbing industry for 23 years, he has seen it all. Sean has worked for Five Star for more than three years. Currently, he lives in Xenia with his wife, Jan, and three children. They include Lily, 19, Caleb, 21, and Lexie, 26. Lexie works in the call center at Five Star. As a local plumber, Sean said being able to take care of our customers’ needs on a daily basis is very rewarding. “When you can go out to a customer’s house and fix an issue that they’re having, you get the chance to make their day a little bit better and relieve that stress from them,” he said. In his spare time, Sean enjoys golfing and hanging out with his grandson, Nolan, who is 4).
