If your washer isn’t performing like it used to, hard water might be the culprit. Over time, mineral buildup from hard water can interfere with your machine’s efficiency, leaving clothes feeling rough and your washer struggling to keep up.
Thankfully, with a few simple steps from your pals at Dick Van Dyke Appliance World , you can protect your washer and keep it running smoothly — no matter your water conditions.
How Hard Water Affects Your Washer
When water is loaded with minerals like calcium and magnesium (usually derived from limestone or chalk in the soil), it becomes hard water. While these minerals aren’t harmful to drink, they can negatively affect your washer, where the minerals build up and cause real damage over time. The key components that take the hardest hit include:
- Drum and Tub: Over time, mineral deposits stick to the drum’s surface, creating friction that forces the motor to work harder.
- Hoses and Valves: Mineral buildup inside water inlet and outlet hoses, as well as valves, can restrict water flow, leading to inefficiencies within the machine.
- Heating Elements: If your washer has a built-in heater, mineral deposits on the heating element can prevent it from reaching optimal temperatures, lowering cleaning power.
Identifying the Signs
Not sure if your water is considered hard? The signs can be easy to miss at first, but if you experience these conditions happening in your laundry then it’s a safe bet to say you do have hard water:
- Soap Scum on Clothes: Hard water can mix with detergent to create a soapy film on clothes, leaving them feeling grimy or not fully clean after washing.
- Stiff or Rough Fabrics: If your clothes feel stiff or scratchy, mineral buildup from hard water could cling to the fabric.
- Mineral Deposits on the Washer: Visible white or chalky residue around the drum, hoses, or detergent drawer indicates mineral buildup inside your washer.
- Frequent Repairs: Ongoing drainage or performance problems might indicate that hard water clogs internal components.
- Longer Wash Cycles: If wash times take longer, it could be due to mineral buildup restricting water flow and reducing efficiency.
How to Prevent Hard Water Problems
Now that you know how hard water can mess with your washer, let’s talk about how to keep it in good shape. Luckily, a few simple tweaks can help you avoid those annoying issues. Here’s what you can do:
- Install a Water Softener: A water softener system removes minerals like calcium and magnesium from your water, preventing buildup in your washer’s hoses and drum.
- Use the Right Detergent: Switch to a detergent made for mineral-heavy water to keep your washer working better. These detergents are made to dissolve more easily and keep mineral deposits from sticking to your washer and clothes.
- Run a Cleaning Cycle: Run an empty hot water cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar once a month to break down the mineral buildup inside the drum and hoses.
- Wipe Down the Seals and Dispenser: After each load, give the door seals and detergent drawer a quick wipe to stop soap scum and moisture from sticking around.
- Check for Buildup: Keep an eye out for chalky residue inside the drum, hoses, or detergent drawer. Catching it early will help you avoid bigger problems down the line.
Paging the Experts
While there’s a lot you can do to keep hard water from messing with your washer, some problems are best left to the experts. Here’s when it’s time to call in the pros, like our service team at Dick Van Dyke Appliance World :
- Stubborn Mineral Buildup: If vinegar cycles and cleaning haven’t cleared the deposits, a pro can deep clean the internal components where minerals tend to hide.
- Constant Wash Problems: Already tried adjusting your detergent and cleaning cycles but you’re still dealing with longer cycles, dirty clothes, or regular break downs? The internal components might need replacing!
- Drainage Issues: If your washer is consistently having trouble draining, and you’ve already tried clearing the hoses yourself, hard water buildup may be blocking the internal drain or water pump. In this case, professional help is needed to access and fix the internal components causing the issue.
- Heating or Electrical Trouble: If the washer isn’t heating correctly or is tripping circuits, mineral buildup on heating elements or wiring is often the cause. Leave these repairs to a pro!
So, if your washer is experiencing any of these issues, don’t wait; set up an appointment today to get your laundry day back on track!