Hard water can wreak havoc on plumbing fixtures. Luckily, many of us living in the Pacific Northwest can count ourselves and our water systems lucky because most of us have access to soft water. 

Occasionally, however, I come across a home where hard water is what’s available. During a recent inspection in Mount Vernon, I noted a white build-up on plumbing fixtures known as calcification—calcite residue from hard water. 

I advised the homeowners to speak with a water system contractor about options (such as the installation of a water softener) to reduce the likelihood of calcification. Unchecked, calcification can reduce appliance life expectancy, affect the taste of water, and is, well, just plain ugly.

If you have questions or comments about plumbing issues or home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).