Water Quality Impact
Your home's water quality affects more than just how your water tastes—it plays a major role in your water heater's performance and lifespan. American Water Heaters offers solutions beyond water heating, including water softening and filtration accessories that optimize your system and protect your investment.
Why Water Quality Matters for Your Water Heater
Water quality directly impacts how well your water heater works and how long it lasts. Hard water, acidic water, and sediment can all cause problems that reduce efficiency, increase operating costs, and shorten your water heater's life.
Hard water contains dissolved minerals—mainly calcium and magnesium—that create scale buildup inside your water heater. This scale acts like a blanket between the heating source and the water, forcing your system to work harder and use more energy. Over time, scale buildup can cause overheating, reduce hot water capacity, and even lead to leaks.
Tankless water heaters face particular risks from hard water. The rapid heating process causes minerals to precipitate quickly, forming scale inside the heat exchanger where water flows. This scale reduces flow rate, clogs fixtures, and can damage the unit.
Tank water heaters aren't immune either. Sediment settles at the bottom of the tank, taking up space that should hold hot water. The sediment layer also makes your water heater less efficient, increasing energy costs. In areas with very hard water, sacrificial anode rods can create aluminum hydroxide gel that further reduces heater efficiency.
How to Check Your Water Quality
Start by researching your local water supply. Every water supplier releases an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed water quality information. You can find these reports through the EPA website or directly from your water supplier.
If you use well water or want more specific information about your home's water, conduct a home water test. Test kits measure pH levels, mineral content, and other factors that affect your water heater. Your local plumbing contractor can also test your water and recommend appropriate treatment solutions.
Signs you might have hard water:
- White, chalky deposits on faucets and showerheads
- Soap doesn't lather well
- Spots on dishes and glassware after washing
- Stiff, scratchy laundry
- Dry skin and dull hair after showering
Location and Temperature Factors
Water quality isn't the only consideration when choosing a water heating solution. Your location and local groundwater temperature matter too.
Cold climates bring colder incoming water, which means your water heater works harder to reach the desired temperature. You may need a larger or more powerful water heater in a cold climate than you would in a warm climate to get the same amount of hot water. A water heater in Minnesota, where incoming water might be 40°F in winter, faces different demands than the same model in Florida, where incoming water stays around 70°F year-round.
Protecting Your Water Heater from Scale Buildup
American offers protection systems designed specifically for hard water challenges.
For Tankless Water Heaters
The Product Preservers® Anti-Scale Filter System prevents scale from forming inside tankless water heaters. The system promotes the formation of inactive scale crystals that flow through the heat exchanger without sticking. You only need to change the filter every two years, making it a low-maintenance solution for hard water protection.
Or, purchase one of our Adapt® gas tankless water heaters with X3® Scale Prevention Technology that will give you virtually zero lifetime descaling maintenance and three times longer product life.
For Tank Water Heaters
The Product Preservers™ Powered Anode System extends the life of tank water heaters in areas with hard water. Unlike traditional sacrificial anodes that can create an efficiency-reducing gel, this powered system quickly adjusts to your water type and delivers better protection for years.
Water Filtration and Softening Options
Depending on your water quality and location, water treatment may range from helpful to necessary. Water filtering and softening provide clean water throughout your home and result in healthier living. Contact your local plumbing contractor to determine whether water treatment makes sense for your home and which system best fits your needs.
Water Softeners
Water softeners specifically address hard water by removing the calcium and magnesium that cause scale buildup. If your water has high mineral content, water softening helps protect your water heater from damaging scale deposits.
Whole Home Filters
Whole home filters treat all the water entering your home. These systems protect your water heater, plumbing fixtures, and appliances from sediment, minerals, and other contaminants.
Drinking Water Filters
Drinking water filters install at specific faucets and treat only the water at that location. These work well if you're primarily concerned about drinking and cooking water quality.
Still Have Questions?
Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals create scale buildup inside your water heater, reducing efficiency and capacity. Scale acts like insulation between the heating source and water, forcing your system to work harder and increasing energy costs.
Watch for rumbling or popping noises (sediment), reduced hot water capacity, longer heating times, rusty or discolored water, and increased energy bills. White flakes in your hot water indicate mineral buildup. These symptoms suggest your water quality is impacting performance.
Water softening helps when your water has high mineral content. While not always required, a water softener protects your water heater from scale buildup, extends its lifespan, and improves efficiency—especially for tankless models where hard water is a common cause of failure.
