If you’ve ever dealt with soap that won’t lather, spotted dishes straight out of the dishwasher, or flaky residue on your faucets, you’ve probably asked yourself, how do you know if you have hard water?

In Houston, Texas, hard water is a common complaint among homeowners—and for good reason. With much of the city's water supply drawn from mineral-rich sources, Houston ranks high on the water hardness scale. But if you’ve never tested your water or aren’t sure what signs to look for, it’s easy to miss the telltale indicators.

In this post, we’ll break down what hard water is, why it’s such a big deal in Houston, and most importantly—how do you know if you have hard water in your home?

What Is Hard Water?

Before we dive into how to know if you have hard water, let’s cover the basics.

Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. These minerals naturally enter the water supply as it flows through limestone, soil, and underground rock.

Hard water isn’t considered dangerous to your health, but it can be a serious nuisance. It affects cleaning, damages plumbing, wears out appliances, and leaves a lasting impact on everything from your skin to your budget.

Why Hard Water Is a Problem in Houston

Houston’s water is supplied by a combination of surface water (from lakes and rivers) and groundwater (from underground aquifers). While surface water tends to have fewer minerals, Houston’s groundwater—especially in northern and western parts of the metro area—is notoriously hard.

Houston Public Works reports that water hardness levels vary widely across the city, typically ranging from 130 to 300+ parts per million (ppm). Here’s how that stacks up on the hardness scale:

• 0–60 ppm = Soft

• 61–120 ppm = Moderately Hard

• 121–180 ppm = Hard

• 180+ ppm = Very Hard

So if you’re wondering, how do you know if you have hard water, and you live in Houston, odds are high that your home’s water falls into the “hard” or “very hard” category.

How Do You Know If You Have Hard Water?

Let’s get into the real question: How do you know if you have hard water? Here are the most common signs Houston residents should look out for:

1. Soap That Doesn’t Lather Well

Hard water interferes with soap’s ability to lather, making showers, handwashing, and dishwashing less effective. If your soap feels like it’s just sitting on your skin instead of working into a rich lather, that’s a red flag.

2. White Spots on Glassware

After running the dishwasher, are your glasses covered in cloudy white spots or streaks? That’s a mineral residue from evaporated hard water—one of the most visible signs of hard water.

3. Chalky Buildup on Faucets and Showerheads

Those white or brownish crusts on your fixtures are called limescale. It’s what’s left behind when hard water dries—and it builds up fast in Houston’s humid climate.

4. Dry, Itchy Skin and Hair

When hard water leaves soap residue on your skin, it causes dryness and irritation. Your scalp may feel itchy, and your hair may look dull or feel brittle.

5. Faded or Stiff Laundry

Hard water can leave mineral deposits on fabrics, making your clothes feel scratchy and appear faded over time. Detergents don’t work as well in hard water either, meaning your clothes aren’t getting fully clean.

6. Reduced Water Pressure

As limescale accumulates inside your pipes, it narrows the openings and restricts water flow. If your home’s water pressure has dropped without a clear reason, hard water buildup might be to blame.

7. Appliance Issues

Water heaters, dishwashers, coffee makers, and washing machines all suffer when exposed to hard water. If your appliances are acting up or needing more repairs than usual, they may be fighting a losing battle against scale.

Want to Be Sure? Test Your Water

Still asking yourself how do you know if you have hard water? The only way to be absolutely sure is with a water test.

Here are a few options:

• At-home test kits: Available online or at hardware stores, these test strips give quick results by measuring mineral concentration in your tap water.

• Professional testing: Local water treatment companies in Houston (like Dupure) often offer free or low-cost water testing and in-home consultations.

• Check Houston's Water Quality Reports: The City of Houston publishes annual water quality reports that include hardness data based on your area or zip code.

What Hard Water Is Doing to Your Home

Knowing how you know if you have hard water is important—but knowing what hard water can do to your home is even more critical.

Here are just a few ways untreated hard water is costing you:

• Clogged pipes and reduced plumbing efficiency

• Shorter appliance lifespans

• Higher utility bills due to inefficient water heaters

• Stained sinks and bathtubs

• More cleaning, scrubbing, and frustration

• Skin irritation and poor soap performance

Hard water doesn’t just annoy you—it costs you time, money, and peace of mind.

Solutions for Hard Water in Houston

Once you’ve confirmed your water is hard, the good news is that there are effective solutions—especially in a city like Houston where hard water is so widespread.

1. Install a Whole-Home Water Softener

A water softener system is the most comprehensive solution. It works by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium or potassium ions, effectively softening all the water that enters your home.

This protects your plumbing, appliances, and fixtures—and improves the feel of your skin, laundry, and hair.

2. Add a Reverse Osmosis System for Drinking Water

A reverse osmosis (RO) system is perfect for the kitchen. It removes not only hardness minerals but also chlorine, fluoride, lead, and other unwanted contaminants from your drinking and cooking water.

Combining a water softener with a reverse osmosis system gives you the best of both worlds—soft water throughout your home and purified water at the tap.

3. Choose the Right Equipment for Houston’s Conditions

Houston’s water quality can vary by neighborhood, so it’s important to choose systems rated for your specific water hardness level. Local experts can help you find the right size, model, and setup based on your home and water usage.

Benefits of Treating Hard Water

Still wondering if it’s worth addressing? Once you understand how you know if you have hard water, here’s what you’ll gain by fixing it:

• Smoother, softer skin and hair

• Cleaner dishes and brighter laundry

• Longer-lasting appliances

• Fewer plumbing repairs

• Lower energy bills

• Less time cleaning scale and soap scum

• Better tasting water (when paired with RO)

Treating your hard water doesn’t just make your water better—it makes your life easier.

Houston Homeowner Tips

If you live in the Houston area and are dealing with hard water, here are a few city-specific tips:

• Watch for seasonal changes. During the summer, higher temperatures can increase mineral concentrations through evaporation.

• Southwest Houston generally has softer water than northwest areas like Cypress or Tomball, which rely more heavily on groundwater.

• Newer homes may already be pre-plumbed for a softener. Check your garage or utility room for a loop or labeled connection.

• HOAs and builders sometimes install base-level softeners that may not be sized correctly for the home. It’s worth reviewing your system and upgrading if needed.

Final Thoughts: How Do You Know If You Have Hard Water in Houston?

Let’s bring it all home: how do you know if you have hard water?

If you’re in Houston and noticing soap scum, flaky skin, spotty dishes, or appliance issues—your water is trying to tell you something. Hard water is incredibly common in this area, and ignoring it only leads to bigger problems.

The fix? A whole-home water softener and a reverse osmosis system can transform your water—and your home.

Ready to Find Out for Sure?

Schedule a free water test with Dupure and get a personalized solution designed for Houston’s unique water conditions. Whether you're in Katy, The Woodlands, or right in the heart of the city, we’re here to help you protect your home from hard water damage.

Clean, soft, refreshing water is just a call away.

What's In Your Water?

Find out how clean your water is (or isn’t) with our Free Water Assessment, and learn more about the Dupure water filtration, conditioning and softening systems that will help you make your house a safer, healthier home.

Book Your H20 Assessment