Aventura real estate, Coral Gables luxury homes, and homes for sale in Port St. Lucie all have something in common – hard water. No matter what Florida city you live in, hard water is just a fact of life.
Limestone runs throughout most of the state. The key with limestone is that it primarily consists of calcite (calcium carbonate), magnesium, and other minerals. As water enters the ground, it easily dissolves the limestone that quickly gets absorbed into the soil and eventually gets taken into the water system. It is the limestone minerals that make Florida’s water “hard.”
How Hard is Too Hard
The actual mineral measurements for Florida are quite interesting. When it comes to groundwater, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports that there are between 121 and 180 milligrams per liter of hard minerals can be found in Florida water.
Another way to look at it is with the grains per gallon (GPG) measurement. Water that contains dissolved minerals above 1 GPG is considered hard. In Florida, water hardness usually is measured or reported at between 10 to 14 grains per gallon making most areas very hard to extremely hard.
What does that mean for you and your Aventura real estate property? Well, the health effects of hard water on residents of Aventura real estate properties have not been seen; however, the issues with hard water’s effects on homes for sale in Aventura and other places can be seen mostly in the plumbing system.
Effects of Hard Water on Aventura Real Estate
When hard water contains a significant amount of dissolved minerals like with most areas in Florida, a lime scale buildup can cause multiple issues with water pipes. The most common is the blockage of water flow through the pipes. The decreased water flow is most often seen in faucets and showerheads where the lime scale can build up until it forms a white solid plug that prevents the passage of any water.
Homeowners should be aware that limescale forms much more rapidly in warm or hot water. This is why pipes leading from hot water appliances are particularly prone to limescale buildup. The warm water temperature inside can accelerate the formation of lime scale around the elements of hot water heaters. This may eventually render them less effective and cause them to use more energy to heat the water.
If the lime scale goes untreated, is can either completely block pipes or, in some cases, the dissolved minerals can eat through pipes. Small holes may be created that leads to water leaks and eventually water damage.
Options and Solutions for Hard Water
Floridians living in Aventura real estate know that moving out of state is just not an option. Who would ever want to leave this part of paradise? There are ways to deal with hard water.
Water softeners are the most common solutions used. They remove the ions that cause the water to be hard, like calcium and magnesium ions and even iron ions.
Reverse osmosis systems also might help by dissolving inorganic solids.
The dilemma with hard water is not only a phenomenon with Aventura real estate properties. It can be experienced throughout the entire state and other areas of the country where hard water is inescapable. But the good news is there are solutions that can help keep your home water running smoothly.
