How Las Vegas Hard Water Damages Your Appliances (and What to Do About It)
By Best Choice Repair ·
Las Vegas tap water is among the hardest in the country. That does your appliances no favors. The minerals in the water leave scale behind, and scale is the quiet cause of a lot of the repairs we see.
What hard water does
- Dishwashers: scale coats the heating element and clogs the small holes in the spray arms. Dishes come out cloudy or dirty, and the dishwasher dries poorly.
- Washing machines: scale sticks the water inlet valve and clogs the fill-hose screens, so the washer fills slowly or not at all.
- Refrigerators: scale slows the water line and fill tube, so ice makers make less ice, small or hollow cubes, and dispensers run slowly.
- Older appliances: after years of scale, we regularly see heating elements coated white and valves that no longer close fully.
Why a softener is not the whole answer
Many higher-end homes have a whole-home softener, and it helps. But a softener that runs out of salt, or has worn-out resin, quietly stops protecting your appliances, and nobody notices. Some homes also leave the refrigerator line un-softened.
If you have a softener, check the salt level every month or two.
Easy things you can do
- Dishwasher: clean the filter monthly, clear the spray arm holes with a toothpick, keep rinse aid filled, and run a hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar every few months.
- Washer: clean the small screens where the hoses connect to the back of the machine.
- Refrigerator: replace the water filter on schedule. A clogged filter looks a lot like scale.
- Kettle and faucet aerators: the same scale builds up there, which tells you how much is in your water.
When it is time to call
If the dishwasher still isn’t cleaning after you’ve cleared the arms and filter, the washer is slow to fill, or the ice maker has stopped, scale may have reached a part that needs replacing. Our guides explain the usual causes: dishwasher not cleaning dishes, ice maker not working and washer won’t drain.
The service call is $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair, and every repair carries a 90-day warranty. Call (702) 726-9648.
This is covered under our Dishwasher Repair service.
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