H2|HPL®

When it comes to water quality, most people think about contaminants like chlorine, iron, or lead. What often gets overlooked is the importance of pH in water. Even if your water looks crystal clear, an imbalance in pH can affect its taste, its quality, and the long-term condition of your plumbing and appliances.

What is pH in Water?

To understand the importance of pH in water, it helps to start with the basics. The term pH stands for potential of hydrogen and is a scientific measurement that shows how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Water that measures below 7 is considered acidic, while water that measures above 7 is alkaline.

Most natural water sources fall somewhere between slightly acidic and slightly alkaline, depending on factors like soil composition, local geology, and whether the supply comes from a well or a municipal system. Municipal water providers usually aim to keep pH within a safe range, but private wells and local plumbing systems can cause variations that affect your home.

pH also interacts with other characteristics of your water. Acidic water, for example, can leach metals like copper or lead from pipes, while alkaline water often carries excess minerals that create scale buildup. This is why the importance of pH in water goes beyond just numbers on a test strip. It influences both water quality and the condition of your plumbing and appliances.

The Importance of pH in the Water You Consume

When discussing the importance of pH in water, drinking and cooking water is one of the first concerns that comes to mind.  Water that is too acidic often has a metallic or sour flavour. This is because acidic water can corrode pipes, releasing metals like copper, iron, and, in older plumbing systems, even lead. Consuming water with elevated levels of metals can pose serious health risks. On the other end of the spectrum, water that is too alkaline may taste bitter and can leave mineral deposits in glasses, coffee makers, and kettles. Neither extreme is ideal for your family’s drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that drinking water fall within a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5. Within this range, water is not only better but also more pleasant to drink. Balanced water maintains a clean, refreshing taste while protecting your plumbing and appliances from the damaging effects of corrosion or scaling.

Understanding the importance of pH in water ensures that homeowners can recognize when something is off. If your water tastes strange, leaves behind residue, or stains fixtures, it may be a sign that the pH level is outside the healthy range. Testing is the only way to know for sure.

Effects of pH on Your Home and Appliances

The importance of pH in water extends far beyond taste. The pH balance directly affects the health of your plumbing, fixtures, and the appliances that use water every day. Even small imbalances can cause long-term damage that leads to costly repairs or replacements.

When water is too acidic, it becomes corrosive. Acidic water slowly eats away at metal pipes, water heaters, and other plumbing components. Over time, this corrosion can cause leaks, reduced water pressure, and even introduce harmful metals into your drinking supply. The damage is often invisible until it becomes a major problem.

On the other side of the scale, water that is too alkaline creates scale buildup. Excess calcium and magnesium minerals attach to pipes, faucets, and appliances, leaving behind white or chalky deposits. Dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters all work harder when scale builds up, reducing their efficiency and shortening their lifespan. Scale can also clog showerheads and leave cloudy spots on dishes and glassware.

Maintaining a balanced pH protects your investment in your home. With the right water treatment system, you can avoid corroded plumbing, extend the life of your appliances, and keep everything running smoothly. This is one of the most practical reasons why homeowners should never ignore the importance of pH in water.

Testing the pH of Your Water

The importance of pH in water and getting it regulated begins with testing. Without accurate results, it’s impossible to know if your water is balanced, too acidic, or too alkaline. Fortunately, there are several reliable ways to check pH levels.

DIY Test Kits
Home test kits are inexpensive and widely available. They typically use test strips or liquid drops that change color to indicate pH. While DIY kits are convenient, they often provide only a general range and may not reveal other water issues that influence pH, such as iron or chlorine.

Professional In-Home Testing
A professional water test provides more precise results. A trained technician can measure pH along with other key factors like hardness, total dissolved solids, and chlorine levels. The advantage of this approach is not only accuracy but also expert explanation, so you fully understand what the numbers mean for your home.

Laboratory Testing
For the most comprehensive analysis, water samples can be sent to a certified lab. This type of testing is recommended if you suspect serious contamination or need official documentation for compliance purposes. Labs can measure pH with high accuracy and also check for a wide range of additional contaminants.

Although any three of these options work to get a pH level for your water, we find the professional in-home testing to be a bit more accurate than DIY kits but less expensive than lab testing. 

Take Control of Your Water Quality

The importance of pH in water cannot be overstated. It influences how your water tastes, how good it is to drink, and how well your plumbing and appliances hold up over time. Whether your water supply is acidic, alkaline, or balanced, testing is the only way to know for sure.

If you’ve noticed unusual tastes, staining, or scale buildup around your home, it could be a sign that your pH is out of range. With some simple testing and treatment, you can restore balance and enjoy water that is cleaner and more reliable.