What Las Vegas hard water does around the house
Valley water's 16 grains per gallon of hardness shows up all over the house. Here's where, why, and what helps.
Where it shows up
| Where | What you see | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Shower glass and tiles | Cloudy film, white streaks | Squeegee after use; vinegar to remove |
| Faucets and showerheads | White crust, clogged nozzles | Soak in vinegar; wipe dry |
| Dishwasher and glassware | Spots and cloudiness | Rinse aid, hard-water detergent |
| Kettles and coffee makers | Flaky scale inside | Descale with vinegar or citric acid |
| Water heaters | Scale in the tank or heat exchanger | Flush per the manual |
| Laundry | Stiff towels, more detergent needed | Softened water, or a water-softening laundry additive |
Why heat makes it worse
Warm water holds less dissolved calcium carbonate, so heating pushes it out as scale. That’s why the worst build-up is in kettles, dishwashers and water heaters.
Cleaning it off
Mild acids dissolve hardness scale. White vinegar and citric acid work on most surfaces; leave them to sit, then scrub gently and rinse. Never use acids on natural stone, which they can etch.
Stopping it at the source
A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium before water reaches the taps, so most spotting and scale stop. A salt-free conditioner may reduce scale in pipes and heaters but doesn’t stop spots on glass.
Questions we get asked
- Why does Las Vegas water leave white spots?
- When hard water dries, the calcium and magnesium it carries stay behind as a white film. Valley water has 280 ppm of hardness, so the spots form quickly.
- Does hard water damage water heaters?
- Heating drives scale out of hard water, and it collects in the tank or heat exchanger. Manufacturers recommend regular flushing; softened water reduces new build-up.
- Is hard water bad for my skin and hair?
- Many people find soap and shampoo lather less and rinse less cleanly in hard water. Softened water lathers easily.