Water Testing Done Right

Alkalinity shows how well your water can balance out acids and keep the pH stable. If it’s too low, your water might get corrosive, and if it’s too high, you could see scaling in your pipes.

Total hardness is all about the amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium in your water. Too much hardness can leave you with scale buildup on faucets and inside appliances.

pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is, on a scale from 0 to 14. If it’s too low, your water can eat away at pipes, and if it’s too high, it can leave behind deposits and taste odd.

Calcium hardness focuses on just the calcium in your water, which is a big part of overall hardness. High calcium can leave stubborn deposits in plumbing and shorten appliance life.

Iron in your water can leave reddish-brown stains on sinks, tubs, and laundry. It can also make your water taste metallic and even encourage bacteria to grow.

Copper often comes from your plumbing, especially if your water is a bit acidic. Too much copper can cause blue-green stains and may lead to health issues over time.

Lead usually sneaks in from old pipes or fixtures. Even tiny amounts can be harmful, especially for kids and expectant moms.

Sulfide often shows up as hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives that “rotten egg” smell. It’s not usually dangerous, but it can make your water smell bad and corrode pipes.

Sulfate is a natural compound that can give water a bitter taste. At high levels, it might cause stomach upset or dehydration.