It’s no secret that there are varying degrees of “danger” around any given home. Of all the potential dangers that could be lurking in or around your home, dirty water is one of the silent invaders that can have the most significant effect on you and your family. Proper and thorough water testing is not a requirement but is strongly recommended for home inspections.
When you think of dirty water, images of discoloration and literal dirt may come to mind – but those are just the least of your worries. Many things could be in your water that will make you and your loved ones sick. When something threatens the water you drink, that something is also threatening your health and safety.
Necessities Of Water Testing
There is a long list of contaminants that could affect your water supply, but here in SW Virginia, there are a few core ones to keep in mind when conducting water testing. Not only does this testing prevent health risks from becoming an issue, but it also assists in keeping your home safer and in better shape. Home inspection companies don’t take this topic lightly – and neither should you!
Hard Water
When cold water evaporates, or water is heated, minerals contained in hard water settle and create a substance known as soap curd. Gross name, right? You may recognize this in the form of those obnoxious bathtub rings in your bathrooms. It can cause scaling in water heaters, clog pipes, ruin your fixtures, and negatively impact the success of cleaning products.
Dirty Or Rusty Water
No one wants to take a big sip of water only to find rust or dirt in it; it tastes disgusting and can make someone feel sick to their stomach. If you start finding stains on your clothing after washing them, taste metal when drinking water, or discover black marks/stains around your sink, it’s time to have your water tested. These could be signs of manganese or iron in your water that should not be there.
Bad Odor And Taste
If your water has a strong odor or an inferior taste, you should have professional water testing done ASAP! This could be due to various elements making their way into your drinking water, giving off a rotten egg or swimming pool smell and a bitter, almost metallic taste. Luckily, it’s self-evident when a household’s water supply is bad, so you can be quick to hire professionals to fix the problem.
Chlorine
Going swimming in the local pool is fun, but everyone knows the struggle of swallowing often foul-tasting chlorinated water. While adding chlorine to the water can be useful in disinfecting and reducing the amount of microorganisms in water, it does negatively affect the taste.
Unfortunately, chlorine can also negatively interact with any organic matter in water, so a proper balance is necessary. Get your water tested to see if it’s in balance.
Proper Water Testing
When we think of drinking water, washing the dishes, or running laundry, our minds are focused on daily household chores—however, a lot more lies beneath the surface of the simple tasks than you may realize. Proper water testing ensures that these daily to-dos are accomplished efficiently and safely.
Everyone should have clean water in their homes for their families, which is why these tests are necessary. The last thing you want is to wind up sick or with damaged household appliances in a way you didn’t see coming. The Detail View Home Inspection team is readily available with all the tools and skills needed to ensure your home is safe and your water tastes great for years to come!
