While it may seem strange to think of water as being hard or soft, hard water can cause a range of problems while soft water doesn’t. Water is called hard when it contains an abundance of minerals. These minerals have a tendency to buildup and latch onto surfaces as a hardened coating. If your area has hard water, then your skin may feel itchy and dry. The extra minerals in the water can also cause your dishes to appear dingy, fade the color of your clothes and damage your home’s appliances. To offset the damage caused by hard water, install a water softener in your home. This type of system offers many benefits.
What is a Water Softener?
A water softener is a tank system that uses tiny resin beads to filter out the minerals within hard water. To prevent hard water buildup within the system, the water softener uses salt to clean the beads regularly. This lets the system continue softening your water.
Water Softeners Prevent Scale from Forming
Hard water can be tough on your bathtub, shower and faucets. In fact, the calcium and magnesium in hard water can cause stains to form. If stains develop, you can remove them with vinegar or by using a combination of bleach and powdered dishwasher detergent. However, the easiest way to get rid of these stains is to install a water softener. Not only will the appliance dissolve hard water stains, but it will also prevent them from forming. To determine the amount of mineral excess that’s currently in your water supply, purchase a water testing kit.
Water Softeners Nip Plumbing Problems in the Bud
If your home has steel pipes and hard water, then you may have a perfect storm of plumbing problems developing. Steel pipes are highly susceptible to the buildup of limescale due to hard water. When this happens, it hinders your water flow, which causes the scale to buildup even faster. Valves and pipes may start to leak, resulting in expensive plumbing work. A water softener will help you avoid plumbing problems.
Water Softeners Decrease Your Water Bill
Because hard water causes deposits to form in your home’s pipes, your water use will increase since the pipes are forced to work harder to permit water to flow through them. If you’ve noticed that your water bill is costing you more than it was 6 months or so ago, consider having your water tested to determine its hardness level.
Prevention is Best
Instead of dealing with the consequences of hard water, consider preventing its unpleasant effects by installing a water softener. With the appliance in place, your home will be less likely to suffer from plumbing issues and hard water stains. Your hair and skin will also thank you. Contact us at Aqua Solutions. We can help you with your water and filtration system needs.
