The Many Benefits of Water Softeners | Have Hard Water?
Hard water is not, as you may assume, water that freezes into a solid. Hard water is an entirely different problem from frozen pipes.
You can usually tell if you have hard water by the scale and buildup it forms around faucets, showerheads, and drains. In the Denver area, the water supply gets “harder” in the winter when many lakes and streams freeze up.
River and groundwater tend to have higher levels of dissolved minerals. While not posing a health problem, hard water can create high costs and many headaches for the homeowner.
Four Water Filtration Methods
- Activated Carbon, aka Carbon Absorption (in granular and solid block form)
- Distillation
- Reverse Osmosis
- Ion Exchange (common in softening and deionization)
Today, we’re focusing on water softeners and the ion-exchange method.
Water softeners “soften” the water by replacing the calcium, magnesium, and other hard minerals with sodium ions (salt). Potassium ions can substitute the salt ions, however, this is significantly more expensive. Either way, these natural minerals allow you to soften the water without having to add any harmful or expensive chemicals into the water.
Keep in mind that water softening is often used as a pre-treatment for other water purification and filtration methods, such as reverse osmosis. If you have more problems than just hard water, speak with a professional about additional water purification attachments.
Signs You Need a Water Softener
Hard water can leave rings around drains, spots on glassware, and get in the way of proper laundering and bathing.
Here are some signs you have hard water in your home:
- Clothes are scratchy and dull
- Dishes have spots on them
- Rusting, white spotting, or minerals stains around drains and fixtures
- Dried out skin and hair
- Low water pressure/reduced water flow
Benefits of Water Softeners
Don’t be soft on hard water. When you remove the high mineral content in your water (calcium, magnesium, and gypsum), you can expect the following benefits:
Less Soap and Cleaning Products
Hard water makes it difficult for soap and cleaning products to forms suds and bubbles. This makes lathering and cleaning clothes and dishes more difficult. Soft water requires a lot less soap, around 50% less, to accomplish the same task. After installing a water softener for your home, you can expect to save a lot of money on soap, detergent, and other cleaning supplies.
Soft water also naturally softens your clothes, meaning less demand for fabric softener.
To significantly improve the airflow of the new system, a easy access filter box on the ground underneath the unit.
Fewer Rings, Stains, and Mineral Deposits
If you are sick of the staining and spotting on your faucets, showerheads, dishes, and drains, a water softener is a solution. Water softeners get the heavy metals out of your water so you can enjoy a plumbing system free from rust and white spotting.
Less Maintenance, Repairs, and Replacements
Soft water keeps your showers, tubs, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures in great condition, warding off expensive repairs and replacements. Additionally, water softeners prevent the buildup of scale in your pipes and water heaters, which can hinder water flow and water heating. With a water softener, you won’t have to drain your water heater of sediment as often.
Energy Efficiency
When hard water builds up, it can restrict the amount of water going to your appliances, forcing them to work harder and use more energy. If you improve the flow of water in your pipes, all your water-using appliances and pipes will become more efficient.
Additionally, soft water allows you to lower the water heater temperature (to around 115 degrees Fahrenheit), saving you money on standby heat loss.
Save Money on Bottled Water
How much do you spend on bottled water? Be honest. Water softeners, especially when combined with additional water filtration, will make your water taste better than the fancy bottled water companies. Get a reusable water bottle and save hundreds, if not thousands, on your water bottle costs.
Save Money on Beauty Products
Are you sick of lotioning your whole body and using half a bottle of conditioner every time you take a shower? Soft water reduces the need for lotions and conditioners since it naturally improves the look and feel of your hair and skin. Forget switching to a more expensive conditioner; get a water softener instead!
The professional plumbers at Fix-It 24/7 can help you choose the right sized water softener for your home, along with any other necessary water filtration methods. Some homes may need an additional water filter attachment to accomplish all of your home’s needs.
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