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If you have a home in the Coachella Valley, you know that our water is harder than granite.
In fact, our water is so hard; I've seen dishwashers destroyed, ineffective washing machines, pool tile calcium buildup so thick it's hard to tell what color the tile is, many hundreds of clogged faucets and shower cartridges, damaged windows and shower glass not to mention way too many clients with hair and skin issues.
Do you know what causes hard water? From Wikipedia: "Hard water is water that has high mineral content (in contrast with "soft water"). Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone and chalk which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates."
Our aquifers provide water that bubbles up through exactly that -- calcium and magnesium carbonates. Some simple ways to combat hard water include:
--Adding a softener to your dishwasher -- we like liquid Lemi-Shine in the jet dry dispenser. Lemi-shine helps keep those hard water deposits from sticking to our dishwasher and your dishes.
--Adding a softener to your washing machine helps the machine last longer and do a better job -- we use 20 Mule Team Borax but White King makes a good water softener product as does Calgon. If none of those are available, adding a cup of baking soda to each load will do the job too.
--Pour vinegar into your coffee pot and let it sit overnight, then wash thoroughly. This will help dissolve unwanted hard water minerals
--Having your windows cleaned at least every 3 months (and have your landscaper adjust any errant sprinklers so they do not spray your windows) - with our wind, windows are still subject to overspray even when the sprinklers are pointed correctly
--Pool tile should be cleaned and sealed every 2-4 years (depending on how hard your water is). To clean your tile, we lower the water to beneath the tile line, sandblast to remove the hard water deposits, then apply a sealer to the tile to help protect it from future deposits. Unfortunately the sun and pool chemicals wear through the sealer so the deposits will return. It's just a matter of when.
While all these steps help protect your appliances, clothes and dishes, it does nothing for your sinks and shower cartridges or how the water feels on your hair and skin.
That's why so many clients ask for whole home softener systems. Picking a system is not as easy as going down to your local home store as there are several factors to consider.
First of all, salt based softener systems are discouraged in Riverside County in order to limit the amount of salt going into runoffs; particularly as it relates to farmland.
Currently, the only places in California that impose the ban on salt system
water softeners is the City of Filmore and cities in the Santa Clarita Valley (both heavy farming areas) so you may install a salt system here in the Coachella Valley without worrying about violating any ordinances.
If you opt for a salt softening system (or any softener system), please make sure to use a properly licensed contractor and that he/she conforms to California health and safety codes as they relate to water softener salt efficiency ratings
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There are many options for water softener systems and right now, Executive Errands® is offering these three types (listed from most expensive to least expensive):
1. Typical salt system
a. Requires salt monitoring and replenishment
b. Maintenance free for up to 10 years
c. Does not soften pool water
2. Carbon system
a. Maintenance free for up to 10 years
b. No need to ever add or replace carbon
c. Can be installed inside or outside
d. Does not soften pool water
e. Some clients opt to bury all but the head of the unit into the ground and cover with a fake rock
3. Inline Ionizer
a. Not a water softener system - however does remove corrosiveness from the water
b. Basically an Ionizer that 'blasts' hard water molecules to break them up so they flush out before attaching to surfaces
c. Installed in front of meter and does whole house and pool
d. Installed in the ground
e. Maintenance free but some clients like to pull the inner workings every 2-4 years and soak them in CLR or Vinegar/Water overnight then reinstall
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Tile Build-up Before |
In addition to home water softener systems, Executive Errands® also offers pool tile hard water removal, replacement of plumbing cartridges, and hard water removal from shower doors and windows.
As always, be sure to hire only licensed and insured companies (like Executive Errands® and our subcontractors) to perform these services.
Let us know if you'd like a quote for any of the following:
--Water softener systems
--Hard water removal from pool tile, windows or shower doors
--Cartridge replacement for faucets and shower heads (typically indicated by dripping)
--Application of anti-water-spot film to your shower doors (won't eliminate hard water spots completely but does cut it down drastically)
Executive Errands®, offers all manner of home preventative maintenance and improvement services.
No matter what you need, Executive Errands® is your Lifestyle Management company; offering a nearly unlimited suite of support and services.
And as always, all our vendors are licensed and insured for their particular trade and they name Executive Errands® as additionally insured so you may use us with confidence.
Your home is one of the largest investments you'll ever make. Maintenance is always important, but even more so in this harsh climate.
Water is our lifeblood -- not just for our bodies and our environment, but for our homes too. Don't let it become your enemy. Make sure it works for you.
For more information about Executive Errands® or to become a client, please contact us or call 760.898.9604
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Leslie Spoor
Executive Errands®
CL#944447
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Leslie is a consultant, mentor and author helping small business owners around the globe. She is founder and CEO of two successful companies, Concierge Business Solutions® and Executive E
rrands®. In addition to her wide selection of training videos and webinars, documentation and forms, Leslie also is the creator of a data collections software system, Essential Elements™ and a six lesson program, How to Start Your Own Business with Leslie Spoor©, available on her website. To work with Leslie or for more information, please visit her website or contact her at Lspoor@executive-errands.com
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For a list of our most popular services, please see our brochure here:
After traveling to Cuba (a beautiful country!), I wrote a travel guide! To download my
American in Cuba e-book travel guide, please
click here.
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This documentation, including sample applications herein, is provided for informational purposes only, and Executive Errands® makes no warranties, either expressly or implied, as to this documentation or its efficacies. Information in this documentation, including any URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to change without notice. The entire risk of the use or the results of the use of this documentation remains with the user. This documentation is copyrighted by Spoor Enterprises Inc, DBA Executive Errands®, 2017.
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