Cerritos Water Analysis
- Water Hardness: 12.0 GPG (grains per gallon)
- Water Hardness: 205.2 PPM (parts per million)
- Water Source: Blended Groundwater and Imported Surface Water
This hardness level is more than double the U.S. national average of approximately 5 GPG. A GPG of 12.0 means that every gallon of water contains the equivalent mineral content of 12 dissolved aspirin-sized tablets of chalk, which builds up inside your plumbing system over time.
Financial Impact on Your Home Appliances
Over a year, the average Cerritos home's plumbing and appliances can accumulate 2.8 pounds of rock-like limescale. This mineral buildup directly costs you money.
- Gas & Electric Water Heaters: Scale buildup forces your heater's burner or elements to fire longer and hotter to heat the water, wasting energy. The stress of constant overheating reduces the heater's lifespan from a typical 12-15 years to as little as 9 years.
- Laundry and Dishes: The minerals in hard water bind with soap and detergent, reducing their cleaning power. You'll likely use 30-50% more soap to achieve the same results, and your glassware will still come out with spots and film.
- Plumbing Fixtures: Showerheads, faucets, and valves clog with scale, reducing water pressure and requiring frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals or premature replacement.
Effects of Hard Water on Skin, Hair, and Fabrics
While not a health risk, very hard water creates daily frustrations. It prevents soap from lathering and rinsing clean, leaving a film on your skin that can lead to dryness and irritation. Hair washed in hard water can feel stiff and look dull due to this mineral residue. This same residue embeds in fabric fibers, making towels feel scratchy and causing colors to fade faster.
Choosing the Right Water Filter for Cerritos
With water hardness at 12 GPG, treating the water as it enters your home is the most sensible solution.
- Salt-Free Water Conditioners: A popular choice for Southern California. They don't remove the minerals but crystallize them, preventing them from forming hard scale inside pipes and on appliances.
- Salt-Based Water Softeners: The traditional and most complete solution. They remove the hardness minerals entirely, giving you truly soft water for spotless dishes, soft skin, and appliance protection.
The investment in a whole-house system has a clear return. A typical softener installation (~$1,500) will pay for itself in approximately 11.9 years thanks to annual savings of $126 from using less energy, less detergent, and extending the life of your major appliances.