Does Water Quality Affect HVAC?

Like so many Coastal Bend homeowners, chances are you haven’t thought much about the quality of the water you use for your daily activities. Water quality can have a tremendous impact on the things you do around the house, from how well your clothes and dishes come clean to the flavor of the food you cook.

The quality of your water can also impact your HVAC system’s performance, efficiency and overall longevity. Water that’s high in mineral content – also known as “hard water” – can shorten the lifespan of your boilers and other HVAC equipment that rely on your home’s water supply. Homes that rely on well water are most likely to be affected by hard water.

How Hard Water Affects Your HVAC

The mineral deposits found in hard water can build up within the internal plumbing of your HVAC system over time. Scale buildup can have an insulating effect inside boilers, for example, causing your boiler to burn more energy just to maintain the same level of performance. This can lead to heating element failure over the long run.

Hot spots can also form in areas with heavy scale buildup, leading to knocking noises as the water reaches its boiling point. Radiators can also become clogged with lime and calcium deposits left behind by hard water.

What You Can Do to Correct Water Quality Issues

There’s plenty you can do to improve your home’s water quality and protect your HVAC system:

Service your HVAC system regularly. Keeping up with regularly scheduled HVAC service can help prevent scale buildup and other issues caused by hard water.

Have your water tested often. Frequent water testing can help ward off water quality issues before they affect your HVAC and other appliances.

Invest in water softening equipment. Water softeners neutralize minerals and other harmful particles in your water supply, making it safer for your plumbing and appliances to use.

To learn more about the impacts that water quality can have on your HVAC system, contact the experts at CCAC today. We proudly serve Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about your HVAC system, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.