It is estimated that 85 percent of homes in America have hard water. If you are wondering what hard water is, then you are not alone, as many homeowners do not know the difference between hard and soft water. Essentially, hard water is water that has extra mineral and metal deposits in it, such as calcium and iron. While hard water is perfectly safe to use and drink, these mineral deposits can cause problems with your plumbing and the appliances in your home, and it can cause problems with your skin. This can make it extremely beneficial for homeowners with hard water in their home to invest in a whole home water softener. Here are just a few water softener advantages for your home.
Extended Appliance Life
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that their hard water can actually be damaging to their appliances, and can shorten their lifespan. The minerals in hard water can be particularly damaging to your washing machine, dishwasher, and water heater, as hard water buildup can cause these appliances to need frequent repairs. Additionally, hard water is much more difficult for your water heater to heat. In fact, hard water can take as much as 25 percent longer to heat, which can result in inefficient heating. A water softener can then greatly lower your utility bills each month, and make your home more energy-efficient.
Better for Your Pipes
Hard water can also cause a variety of problems with the plumbing in your home, as it will leave scaly mineral deposits in your plumbing fixtures as well as in your pipes. These deposits will build up over time, and can cause clogs in your plumbing, and can cause costly corrosion in your pipes that can drastically shorten the life of your home’s plumbing system. One of the most common plumbing problems homeowners with hard water face is that the calcium and mineral deposits in their water destroys their shower heads every few years, requiring them to constantly need to be replaced.
Better for Your Skin
This may be one of the biggest water softener advantages; not only can hard water cause problems in your house, but also, hard water is none too friendly to your skin either. The mineral deposits in hard water that can destroy your appliances and plumbing will begin to do the same thing to your skin. Over time, this can lead to dry, cracked, irritated, and bleeding skin resulting from the mineral residue hard water leaves on your body. This can be particularly problematic for people with preexisting skin conditions, as hard water will only make these problems worse.
Easier Cleaning
Hard water is not only hard on your dishwasher and washing machine, but it is also hard on your clothes and dishes. If you have ever noticed white spots, streaks, or soapy residue on your dishes or clothes when they come out of the wash, this is likely because of your hard water, as hard water has a harder time fully rinsing your clothes and dishes. With soft water, not only will things get cleaner, but you will also be able to use less soap and detergent, saving you money.
Water Softener Advantages
There are many water softener advantages, as hard water can be destructive and unhealthy for you and your home. Once you have access to soft water, you will see for yourself what a big difference soft water can make in your life. However, only a few of the benefits soft water can provide homeowners with have been touched upon here. Contact us to learn more about the benefits a water softener could bring to your home.
There are 2 comments
Growing up I never had to worry about hard water, until now, since moving to a new state, it’s always talked about. It was super helpful when you said that the water will leave mineral deposits in the pipes as well as plumbing fixtures, which will cause corrosion of them. I want to maintain the quality and life of our plumbing, so I’ll be sure to get a water softener if we don’t already have one.
I really need to get a water softener for our house. It’s great that it’s better on appliances, like the dishwasher and clothes washer. Our dishes are always covered in water spots, so that would be great to get rid of.