What Is Hard Water Deposit?
Hard water deposits are derived from water that
contains a high mineral content. This type
of water usually consists of magnesium and calcium along with other
compounds. These compounds are dissolved into the
water as it passes through the ground. After the hard water has evaporated
from a surface such as a window, it will leave water spots known as calcium
deposits or lime scale. As this process continues over and over, the lime
scale will continue to build up. At first it is not very noticeable, but
after time, it will build to a thick white looking glaze. These deposits are
fairly easy to remove during the beginning stages, but over time, the
deposits will slowly etch into the pores of the glass, or are baked on by
the sun. Once this happens, it can be virtually impossible to remove the
deposits from the glass. As the build up continues, it will give your
windows a rough texture and unpleasant haziness.
Stages of Mineral Build Up
Stage One:
This stage usually happens when hard water has been
sprayed onto a window once or twice with ground water from a sprinkler or
garden hose. After the water has evaporated, visible spots are left behind.
These spots can usually be removed with regular
window scrubbing tools along with normal scrubbing methods using
a
homemade window cleaner.
Stage Two:
At this stage the mineral deposit has started to build up
to the point where it has a somewhat transparent, but white pasty look. At
this point, it may be difficult (but not impossible) to remove with normal
scrubbing. A
Window Scraper and acid base or light abrasive glass cleaner may
be needed to completely remove the scales.
Stage Three:
This is where the hard water deposits have build up to the
point where they have etched into the pores of the glass, or have been baked
on by the sun. You will know the damage has been done when the window
scraper or cleaners will not remove the scale build up, no matter how hard
you try. At this point, the window will have to be buffed out by using a
special buffer, along with abrasive window buffing pads. This should only be
done by a professional. If not done right, it will only cause further damage
to the glass. As you can see from the picture, the scale build up has not
only damaged the glass, but has damaged the frame as well.
If you do have stage 1 or stage 2 build up, there are
certain types of cleaners that contain an abrasive or acid base that will
help with the removal of hard water deposits. Acids help remove the deposits
by breaking down their chemical bond. Some acid based cleaners that remove
hard water build up can be found in toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers,
metal cleaners and kitchen/bathroom cleaners. Cleaners that contain a mild
abrasive specifically designed for glass may also be effective when
removing hard mineral deposits.
The most obvious way to prevent mineral build up is to
avoid letting any hard water evaporate on your windows. Adjust sprinkler
heads and do not pressure wash or spray windows with a garden hose. If you
do, make sure all the water is removed using a squeegee before it has
a chance to dry and leave water spots.
Water Softening Systems
Homes with hard water may already have a water softening
system for the inside water. Usually this system is not connected with the
outdoor water source. It may be possible to run your outside water through
the existing system. If this is not an option, you may consider a separate
water softening system for the outside water as well. This is probably the
most expensive method of prevention, but compared to the cost of replacing
windows, it might be a good deal.
Glass Protection
If a water softening system for your outside water source
is not an option, and if ground water continues to be blown from sprinklers
even after they have been adjusted, there is something you can do. There are
hard surface protect ants on the market that work great on glass. These
products coat the surface of the glass, which creates a protective barrier.
This basically waterproofs the glass, and allows water to bead off. This
barrier will also keep hard water deposits from adhering to the
glass. This type of product is hand buffed onto the glass in the same manner
that you would wax a car. The only downfall to using this method is that
when direct sunlight shines through the windows you might notice slight
streak marks.
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