Effects of Hard Water on Dishwashers

Dishwashers and Hard Water

When you think of a dishwasher, you picture a streamlined stainless steel machine that leaves you with sparkling dishware and lots of free time. We don’t blame you. That’s its job, after all. Our guess at Kinetico San Antonio is that you definitely weren’t envisioning rolling up your sleeves and scrubbing your dishes by hand or spending more money on extra cleaning products. The effects of hard water on your dishwasher and dishware will inevitably lead to a strain on your time and wallet.

Cloudy, foggy dishes are about as fun to eat and drink with as they are to look at. Hard water can leave your dishes covered in a white film even after they’re run through the dishwasher. The same residue that clings to your dishware also affects the heating element in your dishwasher. This will create more problems as detergents won’t dissolve if the water can’t be heated to the right temperature.

If you’re living without a water softener in San Antonio you may be working harder than your dishwasher is. If you want to remove that filmy residue from your dishes you’re in for a lot of soaking and scrubbing by hand that can leave scratches and permanent damage. Running an empty dishwasher with a cup of vinegar can be used to combat the build-up plaguing the inside of your dishwasher, but the acid in vinegar can cause erosion over time.

There are short-term solutions to hard water problems. Detergent additives designed to target hard water buildup can be effective but costly. The harder the water is in your area, the more detergent you’ll need to clean your dishes effectively. So, on top of more frequent detergent purchases, you’ll be spending more to stay stocked with additives.

These problems are easily solved with a home water softener. Your dishwasher will require less maintenance and your dishes will come out sparkling without any extra effort. Then the only thing you’ll have left to do is relax!