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Have you ever noticed white spots on your dishes? Maybe your soap doesn’t lather up, or mineral buildup around your faucets that now catches your eye every time you use them. You are certainly not alone. These are all signs of hard water, and in Minnesota, hard water is an issue many homeowners deal with on a daily basis. The good news is you don’t have to continue dealing with these issues. The real question is; does every home in Minnesota need a water softener? The true answer depends on your home's water quality, but for many homeowners, a water softener is a great investment, perhaps one of the best you can make. Why? Because it protects your plumbing, extends the life of your plumbing appliances and fixtures, and can even make everyday cleaning easier. Here is everything you need to know about hard water in Minnesota and whether or not a water softener is right for your home. What Is Hard Water? Hard water contains higher levels of dissolved minerals, most commonly calcium and magnesium. These minerals naturally enter the ground water as it passes through natural underground rock like limestone and dolomite and other rock formations underground. Hard water is safe to drink and is not considered a hazardous health risk. In truth, calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for humans to intake. That said, while hard water is safe for your family to consume, hard water can be incredibly tough on your home's plumbing systems and household appliances. Is Minnesota Known For Hard Water? Yes. The majority of the state of Minnesota has moderately hard to very hard water. Because the municipal groundwater throughout the state flows between mineral rich social and rock, homeowners often experience higher concentrations of these minerals in their water. One might think the circumstance differs between city water versus private well water, but hard water is very common throughout the Twin Cities metro area as well as much of central Minnesota. Some communities may have naturally softer water than others, but in most cases, many homeowners will notice hard water problems without realizing what exactly is causing it. Common Signs Your Have Hard Water If you are not sure if your home has hard water, here are the most common signs. White Spots on Dishes and Glassware Those stubborn cloudy spots that remain after running the dishwasher time and time again aren’t usually leftover soap. They’re mineral deposits left behind after water evaporates. Soap Doesn’t Later Well A notable indication that you have hard water is if it becomes more difficult for soap and shampoo to create a thick lather. As a result, you may end up using much more soap than necessary. Dry Skin and Hair If you notice your skin feels dry or itchy after showering…you probably have hard water. Furthermore, hair may also feel dull or harder to manage because minerals prevent soaps from rinsing away completely during your shower. Mineral Buildup Around Fixtures This can be recognized as a white, chalky residue around faucets, showerheads, and sinks. This is one of the most classic and noticeable signs of hard water in your home. Appliances Don’t Last Long Let’s be honest, these aren't just appliances, they are investments. Water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and even your countertop coffee makers all work harder when minerals build up inside of them. Reduced Water Pressure Over time, mineral deposits can accumulate inside of your pipes and fixtures restricting the flow of water. How Hard Water Affects Your Plumbing One of the biggest reasons homeowners install water softeners is to protect their plumbing systems. When you begin to think about how often water is flowing through your home, know that these small minerals remain behind. Over several years of use, these minerals begin to collect inside of pipes, fixtures, and plumbing appliances. This buildup can lead to - Reduced water flow - Clogged showerheads - Less efficient plumbing fixtures - Increased wear on plumbing components - More frequent plumbing repairs While this buildup happens gradually, the long-term effects of unaddressed hard water can be expensive to repair. How Hard Water Effects Your Water Heater Hard water can most definitely shorten the span of your water heater. In fact, it is the home appliance most affected by hard water. Minerals settle at the bottom of the tank where they will stay, and repeatedly be reheated. Over time, this sediment builds up and creates an insulating layer between the burner and the water that is intended to be heated. This causes your water heater to: - Use more energy - Heat water much less efficiently - Make strange popping or rumbling noises - Wear out faster - Require more maintenance or premature replacement Adding a water softener to your home can significantly reduce mineral buildup in your water heater, helping extend its lifespan and prevent unexpected costly repairs. Click here to learn more about the signs of a failing water heater. The Benefits of Installing a Water Softener A good quality water softener that is well maintained offers benefits for your whole home. Cleaner Dishes No more cloudy glasses or white residue on your dishes, even after running them through the dishwasher. Softer Laundry Clothing often feels softer, and stays brighter longer. Detergents also work more effectively with softened water. Easier Cleaning Hard water often leaves behind soap scum and mineral buildup on showers, tubs, sinks and faucets. These deposits can be hard to clean thus, soft water helps reduce this buildup, making cleaning much easier. Better Water heater Efficiency Without mineral buildup, your water heater can operate more efficiently and may even last longer in your home. Longer Appliance Lifespan Dishwashers, washing machines, humidifiers, coffee makers, and other water using appliances all benefit from softened water. Softer Skin and Hair Many homeowners will notice softer skin, smoother hair, and less soap residue after switching to softened water in their home. Do homes on City Water Need a Water Softener? Oftentimes, people assume only homes operating off of well service need water treatment. In reality, many municipal city water systems throughout the state of Minnesota still supply hard water. Although city water is treated for safety compliance, treatment does not necessarily remove these minerals responsible for hard water. The only way to know your home's water hardness is by testing it. Luckily, NRH Plumbing, Inc. offers free, at-home water analysis test kits to all of their clients. Simply fill a sample bottle, and send it in to the treatment facility for testing. The postage is paid for, and there are no contracts, or binding documents to have this survey done by NRH Plumbing. Do Homes Serviced By Wells Need Softeners? Well water often contains a higher mineral continent than city water. In addition to hard water, well water may also contain: - Iron - Manganese - Sulfur - Sediment - Other naturally occurring, and potentially harmful contaminants. Due to every well being different, professional water testing is the best way to know exactly what is in your water. Testing for these contaminants will help determine the best water treatment systems for your home. How Does a Water Softener Work? A water softener removes calcium and magnesium through a process called ion exchange. As the water flows through the softener's resin tank, the hard materials are exchanged for sodium or potassium ions. This results in softened water throughout your entire home and your plumbing systems. The water softening system periodically regenerates by itself by flushing accumulated minerals and recharging the resin with salt. These days, modern water softeners are highly efficient and designed to only use the amount of water and salt needed for regeneration. Is a Water Softener Worth the Investment? For many Minnesota homeowners…yes. Although installing a water softener requires an up front investment upon install, it can help reduce long-term and repeat costs by: - Protecting your plumbing - Extending appliance lifespan - Improving water heater efficiency - Reducing detergent and soap use - Cutting down on cleaning time - Helping prevent costly plumbing repairs caused by mineral buildup Many homeowners find the long-term value and savings to outweigh the initial installation cost. How Can You Tell If You Need A Water Softener? The best and easiest way to tell is to get your homes water professionally tested Water testing can determine: - Water hardness - Iron levels - Mineral content - Water quality - Whether additional filtration beyond hardness is beneficial Rather than guessing, a professional water analysis provides clear answers and helps ensure you choose the right system, rather than installing systems that make unneeded correction. Professional Water Softener Installation in Minnesota If you are dealing with hard water in your home, installing the right water softener can improve your home’s water quality while also protecting your plumbing investments. At NRH Plumbing, Inc. we help homeowners throughout the greater Twin Cities area evaluate their water quality and recommend solutions that fit their home’s needs. Whether you’re experiencing hard water, looking to replace your current softener, or are interested in identifying potential contaminants and assessing your home’s water quality, our experienced team of professionals is here to help. Nrh Plumbing, Inc. also offers free water analysis, making it easy to understand exactly what is in your home’s water before deciding on a treatment plan. Contact NRH Plumbing today to schedule your free water analysis appointment and learn more about whether a water softener is the right solution for your Minnesota home. Frequently Asked Questions Is hard water dangerous? No. It is not necessarily harmful to drink, but overtime it can create problems for your plumbing appliances and fixtures. How long does a water softener last? Most quality water softening systems last anywhere from 10 to 15 years. The lifespan of these systems depends on your home’s water conditions, and maintenance of the system itself. Will a water softer remove iron? Some water softeners can remove small amounts of dissolved iron but most homes with higher iron levels require additional filtration systems or specialized equipment. How often do I need to add salt? Usually homeowners will refill their softener tank with salt every four to eight weeks depending on the households water use and size of the system. Can I install a water softener myself? We recommend professional installation to ensure the system is sized and connected correctly. Furthermore, professional installation will ensure your system is code compliant and operating efficiently from day one.  If you are unsure where to start when correcting your hard water, or are looking for a professional to install a system in your home, call NRH Plumbing. Nrh serves the greater Twin Cities area with expert knowledge, installation, and maintenance for all things water filtration. To connect with NRH Plumbing, call: 612-900-7728 or visit our website at

Learn the top 10 signs to recognize if your water heater is failing.Discover when repair or replacement is necessary as well as frequently asked questions about water heaters and how to handle different issues you might be experiencing. 10 Signs Your Water Heater Is About To Fail There is never a good time for a water heater to give out on you. Losing hot water in your home is much more disrupting than one may think. Minnesota winters and cold showers just do not mix, and not knowing the signs of a failing system can lead to costly repairs and even unexpected damage to your home. Luckily, your home's water heater will show you the signs of failure before your system completely stops working. The ability to recognize these symptoms may seem complex, but stick with us. Detecting them early will help you avoid emergencies, protect your home, and help extend the lifetime of your system for years to come. Below are what we found to be the most common signs that your water heater may be approaching the end of its life. 1. Your Water Heater Is 10-15 Years Old The age of your water heater is the leading indicator of whether or not you're approaching a system replacement or not. Traditional tank system water heaters last anywhere between 8-12 years, whereas well maintained models may last up to 15 years. Generally, tankless style water heaters have the longest lifespan, but still require routine maintenance. If you are reading this and said, “my unit is 10 years old and showing signs of wear” your most cost effective plan may be to replace it rather than continuing to invest in repairs and small fixes. 2. Running Out Of Hot Water Faster Than Usual Are your showers getting shorter? If your hot water is running lukewarm, or even cold sooner than normal, this could be a tank capacity issue. Sediment will naturally build inside of the tank of your water heater reducing its capacity over time. Over time, natural minerals found in Minnesota’s hard water will settle into the bottom of the tank. This sediment can become thick over time and forces the water heater to work harder while having less room to store your hot water. Suddenly your 40 gallon water heater becomes 35 gallons, then 30, and so on. This sediment buildup will not necessarily be detectable visually. You however may be surprised when the tank is cut open after deinstallation to see the mountains of white calcified sediment lying in them. Here are the cliff notes of common signs that this is your issue: - Hot water doesn’t last long. - Water takes longer to heat up - Family members competing for hot showers. 3. Discolored or Rust-Colored Water Are you noticing brown or even rusty looking water coming from your hot water tap? This can indicate two things that are happening inside of your water heater tank. The first is corrosion, aka rust. This is a pretty straight forward indication of an aging system while factoring in our earlier topic of the effects of sediment buildup. The second is deterioration of the anode rod which is designed to protect your tank from this exact issue, but over time can fail. If discoloration in your water appears only when running hot water, not cold, it could be a sign of internal failure in your water heater. 4. Strange Noises Coming from The Tank A well operating water heater should be relatively quiet, and unnoticed. If you hear…. - Rumbling - Banging - Cracking - Popping Your water heater may be in trouble. A partial diagnosis for this issue brings us all the way back to #2. These sounds can often be caused by hardened sediment collecting at the bottom of your water heater tank. Oftentimes, the settled sediment traps water beneath it causing the water to create noise as the burner heats the tank. Over time, the cause of these strange noises will reduce efficiency and cause additional stress on your water heater. 5. Water Around The Base Of The Water Heater There is a small puddle near the bottom of your water heater….what should you do? A leak like this may be caused by: - Loose plumbing fittings - A failing pressure relief valve - Condensation - A crack in the water heater tank If the tank itself is leaking, replacing the system is usually the best, and safest option. 6. Inconsistent Water Temperature If your shower ever suddenly runs cold, here is the issue. Wavering water temperature often clues us in to failing heating elements, thermostat problems, or internal tank issues. While some repairs can be simple, the inconsistent temperatures can simply indicate that your water heater is nearing the end of its service life. 7. Your Energy Bill is Increasing As your water heater ages, it has to work much harder to produce the same amount of hot water as when it was brand new. If your efficiency is declining, you will probably notice: - Longer tank recovery times - More energy consumption - Heightened utility bills These inefficiencies will progressively get worse, so our best recommendation is to replace your water heater. In this situation, upgrading to a high efficiency model (like a tankless model) would significantly improve your hot water storage, energy consumption, and lower your utility bill. 8. Frequent Repairs Every appliance in your home will eventually reach the point where repairs no longer will suffice, or financially don’t make sense. If you have made recent repairs or replacements to your water heater like; heating elements, valves, thermostats, or other components and new issues continue to arise, it may be time to invest in a new system all together. 9. Low Hot Water Pressure This one is popular! We have addressed mineral buildup several times in this blog making it one of the leading causes of water heater failure. Mineral buildup can restrict overall water flow inside on the tank and even further out to the plumbing connections. If you notice your hot water pressure is lower than your cold water pressure, this could be a sign of sediment or corrosion affecting your systems performance. If you think this may be your issue, a professional inspection can determine whether the issue can be repaired, or if a system replacement is needed. 10. Metallic or Rotten Egg Smell If your hot water puts off a metallic or rotten egg odor…your water heater is giving you a warning sign. The rotten egg odor often indicates that bacteria is reacting with the anode rod inside of the system, while a metallic odor points toward corrosion. No matter how small, these issues should be addressed immediately by a professional to determine the cause. Why Do Minnesota Water Heaters Wear Out Faster? A large number of homes throughout the Twin Cities experience hard water, which contains high levels of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these dissolved minerals collect inside of your water heater tank, eventually reducing its efficiency and wearing down the internal components of the system. Regular maintenance is a great way to prevent issues due to mineral buildup, as well as extend the life of your water heater. Should I Repair or Replace My Water Heater? Not every issue with your water heater requires you to replace your system. Minor issues such as a faulty thermostat, bad heating elements, or valves can more often than not be repaired. It is worthy to note however, that replacement usually is a better long-term investment if… - Your water heater is more than 10 years old. - The water heater tank itself is leaking - Repairs become more and more frequent - Rust or corrosion begins to appear - You're experiencing multiple system issues at once. A licensed plumber can help you prevent these issues from occurring, as well as maintain the health and longevity of your system. Regular services and check ups to your water heater will in turn reduce the likelihood of unexpected breakdowns. My Water Heater Needs To Be replaced: Does your water heater need replacement? If your water heater is showing any of these warning signs, it is time to replace your system before you are left without hot water. The experienced team at NRH Plumbing provides professional water heater inspections, repairs, maintenance, and replacement services for residential homeowners, as well as commercial businesses throughout the greater Twin Cities area. NRH Plumbing will evaluate your current system in your home, give you several options for replacement, and help you choose the right water heater for your home and budget. Contact NRH Plumbing today to schedule your water heater inspections! Don’t go a day without hot water in your home. 612-900-7728 Frequently Asked Questions: How long should a residential home water heater last? Most residential tank water heaters last between 8 and 12 years. Tankless systems can often last 20 years or more while proper maintenance is maintained. Can I still use my water heater if it is leaking? If you are observing an active leak from your water heater tank, it is best to turn off your hot water supply and contact NRH Plumbing as soon as possible. Continuing to use a leaking tank can result in significant water damage to your home. Pro Tip: All water shut-offs in your home should be labeled throughout your home. When you run into issues such as leaks, you don’t have to scramble and guess which one needs to be turned off. When receiving service from NRH Plumbing, technicians will automatically label your shut-offs for you ensuring you are well prepared if an emergency were to arrive. Should I repair or replace my old water heater? If your water heater is at the end of its lifespan, and is experiencing need for frequent repairs, replacement is more often than not the most cost-effective solution for your home. How can I make my water heater last longer? Conducting annual maintenance such as flushing sediment from the tank, replacing the internal anode rod, and addressing small issues and concerns early can significantly extend the life of your system. A professional plumber is able to complete these services and help you increase the lifespan of your water heater

For homes with high nitrate levels: NitraMAX Nitrate Removal

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NHR plumbing is a family owned and operated residential and commercial plumbing contractor based in Ramsey, MN. We provide 24/7 emergency plumbing services, main line cleaning, as well as planned instillation including: water heaters, water softeners, water conditioners and plumbing fixtures.

For many homeowners, they dislike the taste, smell or color that sometimes comes with city water. Even when the water is perfectly safe to drink, that doesn’t mean that it won’t still have a specific taste, leave a residue or look cloudy.  For those homeowners, we strongly recommend a water filtration system to help keep water clear.

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