Water in winter: How cold weather affects your pipes and your skin

January. The month of cocooning, binge-watching TV series, and turning the heating up to the max. When it’s -20°C outside, we often worry about our windows or our car, but rarely about our water.

However, winter is a critical season for the quality of what comes out of your tap. Between frozen ground and dry air in our homes, your water treatment system has a lot of work to do.

In short: The effect of winter on water quality

Cold weather does not alter the chemistry of water, but it does make it more vulnerable to transport issues (broken pipes, leaks). Above all, winter exacerbates hard water problems. The combination of “dry air + limescale” is the main cause of winter itching. The solution to protect your skin and your fixtures is often to install an effective water softener.

Myth or reality: Does cold weather purify tap water?

This is a persistent myth. People often think that ice-cold water is purer. This is not true.

The danger in winter does not come from the temperature, but from the pressure on infrastructure. The ground shifts when it freezes. If your water inlet or municipal pipes break, watertightness is no longer guaranteed.

• The sign to watch for: If, after a cold snap, your water becomes cloudy or tastes like dirt, don’t drink it. This is often a sign of a leak in the pipes.

This is a real risk: according to Infoinsurance (the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s website), water damage accounts for nearly 50% of home insurance claims, and frozen pipes are a major cause. Healthy plumbing is your first line of defense.

Hard water and dry air: Why does your skin itch in winter?

Does your skin feel like “crocodile skin” in January? It itches, it feels tight, it’s uncomfortable. We blame the heating, but hard water is just as much to blame.

If your water is hard, invisible minerals remain on your skin after showering, clogging pores and preventing natural hydration.

• In the bathroom: Have you noticed that limescale in the shower builds up faster in winter? That’s because hot water evaporates quickly in dry air, leaving mineral deposits on your walls… and on your skin.
• The solution: This is where a Kinetico water softener makes all the difference. It removes these irritating minerals at the source. It’s often the difference between cracked skin and lasting comfort all winter long.

Our tips for avoiding dehydration and hassle

To stay healthy this winter, here are three simple habits to adopt:

1. Keep moving: If you’re heading south, don’t turn off the heating completely. Water left standing in frozen pipes is a ticking time bomb for frost damage.
2. Stay hydrated: Dehydration is sneaky in winter because we feel less thirsty. However, the body loses a lot of water due to heating. Drinking purified water at room temperature is the best way to compensate.
3. Test if in doubt: Notice a change in taste after a freeze? Don’t wait.

Don’t let the cold spoil your comfort. If you notice that your water has changed or your skin can no longer tolerate showering, come see us. The Puribec team can perform a water analysis to identify the problem and ensure you have a mild and pure winter.

Stay warm!