How can you test water hardness?

Certainly, in these times we live in a state of constant change, which makes us pay close attention to what we consume, whether we are talking about food or various drinks. And in this context, we must also mention the drinking water we find at our taps.

One of the biggest problems with drinking water is its high hardness. Under these circumstances, it is very important to know how you can test the hardness of the drinking water you will at some point consume. In addition, I recommend checking for the presence of various substances that water may contain.

As we know, the water we find at the tap is not always of the best quality, especially considering that water can contain quite a few substances that are harmful to our bodies. And as mentioned in the title, hardness (limescale) is one of the factors that water ideally should not contain.

We can check tap water using various methods, and we can also take safety measures for the water we use. We can test the water using the following identified methods:

• at a specialised chemical laboratory
• using a water hardness testing solution;

Water hardness is measured in German degrees. On the analysis report you will see a number representing the German degrees of water hardness.

• between 0 and 5 German degrees, the water is soft
• between 5 and 15 German degrees, the water is medium hardness
• above 15 German degrees, the water is hard – This is where the major problems arise!

In fact, we can say that water testing can be done either at a chemical laboratory (cost approximately 200 lei / test) or using a water hardness testing solution (cost approximately 50 lei / 30 tests). Therefore, testing water at a chemical laboratory involves analysis using various chemical substances and specialist tests. If you are strictly interested in water hardness, a drop test is the most recommended option.

By testing at a chemical laboratory, you can obtain reports with results that can guide you in determining what type of filtration system you need. Of course, tap water hardness can also be checked at home using a few "classic" methods. One of the best-known home methods is boiling tap water and letting it cool. You will notice how a layer of limescale builds up on the surface of the water and on the inside of the vessel in which you boiled it. Of course, home methods are purely informative and not at all precise.

Another method you can use at home is to observe the amount of limescale deposited on water taps, the washing machine or stainless steel items. To protect all this equipment, I recommend purchasing and installing a special filter for water hardness.

There are drinking water filters that also include a softening cartridge; however, the best solution is to install an automatic softening station. An automatic station protects your entire home plumbing system and all appliances (washing machine, kettle, etc.).

A filter provides you with pure water under optimal conditions, free from the worry of impurities. All the more so when it comes to the drinking water we consume every day. Therefore, we should not consume water without testing it first and without knowing what we can do to improve its quality. Especially since we currently have a wide range of filtration systems available.

The secret is to choose the best system for your needs. Talk to a specialist consultant before choosing any filtration system.