Life

Solutions to Common Winter Drinking Water Issues

Different seasons of the year mean a few other things for how you care for specific components in your home, and a good example here is drinking water. For instance, the winter period we’re currently in may present a few different challenges when it comes to drinking water than you’d find at other times of the year.

However, with the proper attention and essential solutions, these issues are not a significant concern. Products like water softeners and other forms of drinking water filtration, including reverse osmosis, are precious to many homes, including this winter. What are some of the challenges you may be facing concerning drinking water this winter, and how can you navigate them? Here’s a primer.

Drinking Water

Common Winter Drinking Water Concerns

Here are a few of the most common issues homeowners sometimes deal with in the winter regarding their drinking water:

  • Hard water: When we talk about “hard” water, we mean water with high mineral content. This can often clog plumbing, make it difficult to get soap to lather, and leave unsightly residue on dishes and other items in the water. It’s also known to cause scale buildup over time on appliances like water heaters, which reduces their efficiency and lifespan. And because many homes use more hot water during the winter season, this can be a particular issue.
  • Other sediments or minerals in water: While hard water is the primary term for water with various buildups, other sediment and mineral deposits can be found in drinking water. Iron, sulfur, and manganese are a few common examples, and all can create their own set of problems, from bad tastes and smells to colored water.
  • Trapped air in pipes: Another reality of winter is that pressure within pipes often drops as the weather gets colder. This can cause air to get trapped in the piping, leading to issues like gurgling noises, water that won’t come out entirely, and even complete system failure. You’ll often notice signs of this in the form of cloudy tap water.

Solving These Potential Issues

Here are some of the possible solutions available depending on which of the above issues you’re dealing with:

  • Installing a water softener: A water softener is a device that attaches to your home’s plumbing and helps reduce the number of minerals in your water. This can address hard water, scale buildup, and even bad tastes and smells. People who install water softeners in their homes will instantly notice a difference in the overall quality of their water, which will not only taste and smell better but will also be smoother to the touch and less likely to leave spots on dishes.
  • Using a drinking water filtration system: A drinking water filtration system is a device that sits in your home’s plumbing and filters out many of the sediments, minerals, and other particles found in tap water. This can address issues like bad tastes and smells, colored water, and even some forms of bacteria. It’s an excellent solution for those who don’t want to or can’t install a water softener in their home.
  • Adding air pressure: One way to combat trapped air in pipes is by adding air pressure. This can be done using an air compressor or hiring a professional plumber to add atmosphere to your system. This can be a quick and easy fix for many homeowners and often doesn’t require expensive equipment or maintenance.
  • Replacing old pipes: If you’re noticing any problems with your drinking water and think it may be due to aging or damaged tubes, one solution may be to replace them altogether. This is a more expensive option but can be well worth it in the long run if your home is experiencing multiple water-related issues.

No matter what challenges you’re facing with your drinking water this winter, solutions are available to help address them. By understanding the common issues and how to solve them, you can ensure that you and your family are in good shape year-round.

Jeremy D. Mena
Alcohol geek. Future teen idol. Web practitioner. Problem solver. Certified bacon guru. Spent 2002-2009 researching plush toys in Miami, FL. Won several awards for exporting tar in Libya. Uniquely-equipped for managing human growth hormone in Libya. Spent a weekend implementing fried chicken on the black market. Spoke at an international conference about working on carnival rides in Miami, FL. Developed several new methods for donating jack-in-the-boxes in Edison, NJ.