Order summary
- Toronto tap water typically measures roughly 120 to 130 milligrams per litre of hardness, about 7 grains per gallon.
- That is moderately hard: enough to leave scale, not enough to make a softener essential for everyone.
- Scale is mostly a maintenance issue for fixtures and water heaters.
- Buying a softener comes down to how much the scale bothers you.
Numbered steps
- Look for the signs. White deposits on faucet aerators and shower heads, spotted glassware, a crusty kettle and a stiff feel to washed towels.
- Clean aerators and heads. Unscrew them and let them sit in white vinegar for a few hours, then brush and rinse.
- Descale the kettle. A vinegar and water boil every month or two keeps it efficient.
- Look after the water heater. Flush a tank heater yearly. A tankless unit needs periodic descaling through its service valves.
- Check the toilet tank. Mineral build-up on flappers and fill valves causes leaks and running toilets over time.
- Decide on a softener. Consider one if scale is constant, if you have a tankless heater, or if you simply prefer softer water. Ask about salt use, drain connection and space.
Plumber's tip: Water softened with an ion-exchange system has more sodium. Many households keep one unsoftened cold tap for drinking. To discuss options, call (365) 517-5705.
Errors we see on site
- Using harsh abrasives on chrome or coated fixtures. They scratch the finish.
- Forgetting the aerators until flow drops to a trickle.
- Installing a softener without a proper drain for the regeneration water.
- Oversizing or undersizing the softener for the household's water use.
- Assuming all cloudy or odd-tasting water is a hardness issue. Other causes exist.
When the desk should come out
Call when scale has seized a valve or a toilet fill valve, when a water heater rumbles despite flushing, or when you want a softener installed with a bypass and a correct drain. We can also look at whether a running toilet comes from mineral wear; our leaflet on running toilet fixes covers the common causes. When a worn toilet is beyond repair, toilet installation follows.
Browse every service on the specialties page.
Checking your own numbers
Toronto Water publishes annual water quality reports with hardness figures. Test strips from hardware stores give a quick reading at your own tap if you want to confirm.
Where scale costs you most
Of everything in the house, the water heater pays the highest price for hard water. A layer of scale on a tank bottom or inside a tankless heat exchanger forces the burner to run longer for the same hot water, and it shortens the life of elements and valves. Dishwashers and front-load washers come next; their heating elements scale up just like a kettle. Following each appliance maker's descaling advice, and flushing the heater on schedule, protects the equipment that costs the most to replace.
Quick checklist
- Soak aerators in vinegar
- Flush the water heater yearly
- Consider a softener for tankless units
Your questions on this one
Is Toronto's hard water bad for my health?
Calcium and magnesium, which cause hardness, are not considered a health concern at Toronto's levels. Hardness is mostly about scale and soap performance.
Do I need a water softener in North York?
Not necessarily. Many homes manage with routine cleaning and heater flushing. Buy one if scale is a constant nuisance or you have a tankless heater.