For many of us, hard water is simply a fact of life. Most tap water contains minerals from when it was pumped from the ground, and the combination of these minerals is what makes water hard. Hard water is why you may prefer the taste of bottled water and see limescale and muck in your taps. Water softeners are one way to get rid of the problems that hard water causes. Read on to find out 5 reasons why you should use a water softener.
1. Easier Cleaning
One of the big problems with hard water is that the extra minerals present will often prevent your water to be as effective when you use it in cleaning. Dishes, pots, and pans will often have white soap residue, since hard water doesn’t wash soap off your dishes as effectively. Having a water softener means that your clothes and dishes will be cleaner overall. In addition, since soft water is more effective, you will need less water when doing the dishes and therefore have a lower water bill in the long one.
2. Better For Your Body
This more effective cleaning carries over to the shower as well. Hard water can cause your shampoo and body wash to leave a thin film of soap no matter how long you scrub. In addition, minerals like calcium and magnesium can clog your pores, cause irritated and dry skin, and even strip the top layer off your hair follicles. Bathing in hard water can lead to acne as well. In addition, using hard water in cooking and when drinking from the tap can cause health problems if the water includes certain minerals. Using a water softener will be better for your body no matter what way you look at it.
3. Better Appliance Life
The minerals in hard water don’t just build up on your skin or in your taps. They can also cause clogging, blockages, and inefficiencies in appliances that use water, such as washing machines and dishwashers. The mineral buildup caused by hard water can also mean horrible water pressure, which is one of the leading causes of water appliance burnout. This is because the machine will try to compensate for the lack of water and end up burning out its motor. Getting a water softener will mean a better appliance life and more efficient appliances.
4. Better Water Heating
Another consequence of better and more efficient appliances is better water heating as well. Soft water is also chemically easier to heat than hard water. This holds true whether you have an electric or a gas water heater. In addition, hard water can easily cause mineral buildup in water heaters. This causes poor water pressure in the water heater itself, which makes the heating of the water less efficient. A water softener will make it so you can save water by not having to heat up your shower in advance and can allow you to use more heat-intensive appliances.
5. Less Pipe and Faucet Damage
In addition to the previously stated problems with mineral residue, the minerals that hard water leaves behind can lead to serious pipe and faucet damage. The lime or scale deposits that make your taps look gross will build up over time. This makes it so that clogs are more likely and pipes can become corroded. In addition, the buildup inside of your pipes and finishings can be very annoying when it happens to showerheads and valves. It will lead to poor water pressure and other annoyances. If you get a water softener, you won’t have to contend with mineral buildup in your pipes and faucets.