A practical checklist you can run through in your own kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.
Start at the fixtures. Chalky white residue around aerators and on shower glass points toward hardness. Orange-brown marks in sinks and toilets point toward iron instead.
Move to the laundry. Whites that grey out, towels that feel stiff, and detergent that never quite lathers are all consistent with hard water.
Use your nose in the shower, where warm water releases dissolved gases. A sulfur smell that shows up there and nowhere else is worth mentioning during a test.
Finally, look at your appliance history. Water heaters and dishwashers that failed earlier than expected are a quiet but expensive signal, and the one homeowners most often overlook.
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