If you've moved to Southern California from somewhere else, you've probably noticed it: soap that won't lather, glassware with a permanent cloudy film, and mineral crust building up around every faucet. That's not your imagination, and it's not bad cleaning. It's hard water, and most of the region has it.
Hard water simply means the water carries a higher-than-average load of dissolved calcium and magnesium. It's completely safe to drink, but over time those minerals leave deposits everywhere water travels through your home, inside pipes, on fixtures, and especially inside your water heater.
The place we see it cause the most damage is the water heater tank, where scale buildup on the heating element makes the unit work harder, run less efficiently, and fail sooner than it should. Dishwashers and washing machines take a similar hit over years of use.
A few habits help: descaling faucets and showerheads every few months, flushing your water heater tank annually, and considering a whole-home softener if you're staying in a hard-water area long term. During a home inspection, we'll flag visible scale buildup so you know what you're working with before it becomes a bigger repair.