Common Causes of Hard Water and How To Treat It
Thompson Family Plumbing is your go-to choice for residential plumbing repair and installation throughout Lake Havasu City, AZ and Hesperia, CA.


Hard water can cause several problems for you, like rust stains in sinks and scale buildup inside plumbing pipes and appliances. Fortunately, you have options for reducing hard water issues inside your home. Learn more about the common causes of hard water and how to treat it.
Understanding the Causes of Hard Water
Hard water is any water that has high levels of minerals dissolved in it. Dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium are the most common causes of hard water.
If you live in an area that sources groundwater that interacts with limestone, calcium, and magnesium commonly dissolve in the water.
It’s normal to have some of these minerals in your water. However, high levels of calcium and magnesium can cause problems in your plumbing and in how you use water.
Problems That Hard Water Can Cause
Problems that you may experience when you have excessively hard water include:
- A buildup of scale inside appliances and pipes
- Appliances that need frequent repairs
- Appliances that break down prematurely
- Gradually reduced water flow
- Excessive use of soap and detergent
- Dry skin and dry hair
- Stains and water spots on glassware or shower doors
- Rust stains inside sinks and bathtubs
- Laundry that feels stiff
- Increased costs for energy because of mineral deposits and calcium buildup
Ways You Can Treat Hard Water Problems
If you’re unsure whether you have hard water, you can call our plumbers to run tests on your water supply. If you discover that you have excessively hard water, you can try some of the following troubleshooting tips. Our licensed plumbers can help you deploy one or more of these solutions, too.
Install a Water Softener
The most effective way to combat hard water problems is by installing a water softener. It uses ion exchange techniques to turn calcium and magnesium ions into sodium ions.
Soft water won’t cause mineral buildup in pipes and appliances. However, you may not like the taste of soft water, meaning you may need a water filtration system for drinking water.
Install a Water Conditioner
A water conditioner appliance is similar to a water softener, but it doesn’t take out or change the hard water mineral ions. This solution is not as effective as a water softener, especially for dealing with moderate or heavy hard water measurements.
Cleaning With Vinegar and Baking Soda
If you have a buildup of these hard water minerals on your faucets, you can soak them in vinegar to break away the minerals.
For rust stains and water spots from hard water, a foaming mixture of baking soda and vinegar can be useful.
Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain Has Hard Water Treatment Solutions for You
Don’t feel like you have to live with the consequences of excessive water hardness. At Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain, we can help you understand common causes of hard water and how to treat it.
Let us help you with water softening and water filtration solutions that work well and are available at a reasonable price. For help with hard water or other plumbing issues, contact us today at (855) 390-0457. Reach out now.

Devynn Thompson
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Once again Thompson Family Plumbing came in and took care of us as if we were their family. They always go above and beyond for their customers and make you feel like you are important to them. I can’t thank them enough for coming in and taking care of the issues that I had with my home as quickly as they did. Absolutely the best plumbing company around. Thank you, John and Devynn for everything.
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What a great local family company. Had a little issue today (Saturday). Gave them a call. The lady said she would have someone here between 3 & 5. It was at 1 when I called. 3:00 on the nose Don was here. Don was very friendly and had the broken pipe fixed in no time at all. The price was more than reasonable, especially last minute on a Saturday.
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Thank you Thompson Family Plumbing for your quick and professional service. Don did a fantastic job of analyzing the situation and making all the necessary repairs. Clients were happy with the professionalism and knowledge that Don possessed in getting the job done. Ashley went out of her way to ensure that an appointment was made asap for the clients.
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Plumbing technician Dean Taylor came over last week to set up a line so I could get a dishwasher installed. I didn’t have the proper setup but he took care of it in no time! Now the installers will have no problem doing it. He was very knowledgeable and professional. I will definitely have him come back for other plumbing jobs. From start to finish everyone I spoke to was very helpful! Their customer service is outstanding!
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