How Hard Water Is Damaging Your Appliances

Every month, you receive a bill from the water company for your water usage. But did you realize that the true cost of your water could be much, much greater?

In fact, depending on your water quality,the water running through your home could be costing you a fortune.

We’re referring to water that contains a high amount of mineral sediment, also known as “hard water.” Few people realize it, but hard water can be so EXPENSIVE.

So if you have hard water, here are 3 ways that it’s costing you money: 

#1 Hard Water Makes Your Appliances Less Efficient

Did you know that hard water is hard on your appliances?

It’s true.

Hard water can reduce the efficiency of your appliances by up to 48%, according to a study by the Water Quality Association (WQA). And that decrease in efficiency can lead to a 29% increase in your energy bills–costing you $1,500 or more over a 10-year period.

(And that’s just for your water heater. The same efficiency loss would affect your dishwasher and your washing machine.)

shower-head
appliances

#2 Hard Water Forces You To Waste More Soap & Detergent

When you have hard water, you have to use more soap, detergent, and other cleaning products. Over time, this can become a significant expense.

Think about how much money you spend on dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, bath & kitchen soap, lotions, and other household cleaners. Probably several hundred dollars a year, depending on the size of your family…and if you have hard water.

(That cost could be reduced by 75% or more with soft water.)

#3 Hard Water Reduces the Lifespan of Your Appliances

Hard water also causes a buildup of scale that can shorten the lifespan of your appliances by 30-50%!

In another WQA study, the heating elements inside water heaters using hard water failed after just 19 months. The water heaters using non-hard water lasted much longer—up to 15 years.

saving-money
Appliance Type
Lifespan with Soft Water
Lifespan with Hard Water
Dishwasher
10
10
Washing machine
11
7.7
Faucets
9
5.4
Toilets
6.5
2
Electric water heater
13
6.5
Gas water heater
11
5.5

How Can You Tell if You Have Hard Water?

If you suspect you have hard water, here are some of the telltale signs to watch out for:

  • Mineral buildup in sinks, bathtumbs, and on your water fixtures
  • Spots on your dishes, glasses, and silverware that don’t come out in the dishwasher
  • Water heaters that fail sooner than they should
  • Soap scum in your bathtub or on your shower curtain/shower door
  • Faded clothing (especially clothes that used to be vibrant & colorful)
  • Dry, itchy skin and limp-looking hair

Or you can always contact Culligan to schedule a free water test. One of our technicians will come to your house and test your water for hardness and other contaminants.

Find Out What's In Your Water Today

Schedule your FREE water test by simply filling out the form below or call us today to learn more about getting cleaner, stain-free water!

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What our clients say

There’s a reason Culligan of Kansas City is the best water treatment company in KC with over 486 4.6-Stars Google Reviews.

Christie, my technician today, was great very informative.
Quick helpful friendly service!
I'm happy and this is a long review. The TL;DR is that they're awesome.I can't recommend Culligan of KC enough. Truly, they have been phenomenal. Sales, installation, even the managers I've spoken with were all just friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I have a special needs kid and am fairly new to Kansas City, and I was not prepared for how hard and chlorinated the water in Olathe is. My kid has severe digestive issues and skin issues and is super sensitive to all kinds of things, so I finally decided we needed a water softener and RO.Justin came out and tested my tap water for all the things (it's as bad as I thought) and explained all my options really well, helping me decide what I really needed for my house and my budget without pressuring me. Honestly, a wonderful salesman. The kind of salesman that all salesmen should be but rarely are. He's answered all my questions (and I have had a lot), returns messages and calls with no problem or delay, and is just a great guy to work with.Josh installed my equipment a week or two later, and was super professional and efficient. He got my water softener, dechlorinator, and RO all hooked up and installed with no issues, and then made sure I understood the equipment and operation of all the things. Justin popped in during installation and made sure I was happy with everything and they were just really great.Justin came back a couple weeks later to make sure everything was going well and I was happy with everything and the equipment was working as it should (it was). I decided that I needed a larger RO tank (I use more than I estimated) and he came through again, explaining my options and getting me what I needed.Damien came and installed my larger RO tank, and was super great about working around my schedule. He was friendly and efficient, replaced my tank quickly with no issues.If you're worried about your water, these are the guys to call, hands down. I have recommended them to strangers, to my family, and will continue to be a customer here.
We’ve had our new water system for about three weeks and could not be happier. Love the feel and taste of our water. Justin and Josh were both excellent in their sales and installation roles and I would highly recommend Culligan KC for their products and people. Great work, all!
Justin and Josh did a great job last Friday May, 29, 2026 putting my system in particularly with the changes that were made. We went from the big blue to the whole house filter system during their installation and Josh had to go to the store to pick up parts so the water from the softener could be discharged in another area of the basement instead of the original spot. Thanks you!
Kuddos to James and his team. My wife and I are very happy with the service we are receiving.We recently had a wholehouse water softening and reverse osmosis system installed.James personally made sure that the installation was tailored to meet our needs despite some obstacles we had to overcome in the early stages of the planning and installation given the plumbing system layout of the house.James and his team delivered, and then some. They went above and beyond. That explains Culligan's excellent reputation in the local market.People make the difference for companies for sure.Thank you James and Culligan team.
Joe did a great job from the consultation visit to the installation. He was timely, professional, and worked with our schedule.
Jacob was an outstanding Craftsman; very easy to talk to and explained any questions I had. It’s great to have clean water!
Christy provided service to our home today and was wonderful! She is very professional and knowledgeable regarding our system. She took the time to educate us regarding the system that was in the house and made sure we understood. I highly recommend Culligan and Christy as well.
Had a new softener system put in. Great service and great timely responses from the entire team through the installation process.
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