How to Test for Hard Water at Home

Have you ever wondered what exactly is in your water? Maybe you’re thinking of testing its quality. While it’s unlikely that you’ll find anything dangerous in your home’s water, you’ll find that there’s more to it than pure H2O! 

In particular, you may find that your water is hard, which means it has high levels of minerals in it. If you’re unsure whether your water is hard, there are a few ways you can find out:

1. Look For Signs of Hard Water

If the water in your home is pretty hard, you may not need a test to tell you so. Hard water has a way of making itself known! If you have hard water, you’ll probably notice these signs in your home:

• Soaps and detergents barely lather.
• Cloudy spots appear on glasses and other dishes over time.
• Mineral stains build up in sinks, toilets and showers.
• Low water pressure.
• Limescale blocking showerheads and faucets.

If you notice these signs of hard water in your home, you don’t need to test whether your water is hard. Instead, you might test just how hard it is.

2. Check the City’s Website

The fastest way to get an idea of your home’s water is to check the city website. If you live in the San Antonio area like so many of Kinetico SA’s customers, you can find the most recent water quality report on the San Antonio Water System website. A city water quality report will tell you where your water comes from and what’s in it, including the hard water number in your area.

3. DIY Water Test

If you suspect hard water in your home, you can test it with just a clean water bottle and some pure castile soap. Simply fill the bottle one third of the way with tap water and pour in a few drops of the soap — it must be pure castile soap, as other soaps have additives to make them lather in hard water. Close the bottle and shake it up. 

If the bottle fills the rest of the way with bubbles, the water isn’t hard. If the water turns cloudy and there’s just a thin layer of bubbles, it’s hard.

4. Hard Water Test Kit

If you’re looking for a precise test to tell you just how hard your water is, a hard water test kit — or a water quality test that includes water hardness — is the best solution. While you can buy these test kits at any home improvement store, Kinetico SA makes it easy to find out exactly what is in your water. We offer free water tests to tell you how hard your water is and detect any other abnormalities, such as high chlorine.

When you schedule a free water test with Kinetico SA, our technician will test your water, explain the results and recommend the best solution to any problems we find. We can even help you choose one of our top-of-the-line water softeners!

Contact Kinetico SA today to schedule your water test.