A water softener system can protect your home from the damage hard water can cause, and a high-quality water softener is essential for homeowners looking to solve their hard water issues. Here are the common signs that your home needs a water softener.
A home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll arguably ever make. It is an investment you want to protect and keep running smoothly. But if you’re like 85% of homeowners in the U.S., there is a silent culprit wreaking havoc throughout every aspect of your home, Hard Water. Hard water is determined based on the volume of milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved calcium carbonate found in the water.
• Soft water has 0–60 mg/L of calcium.
• Moderately hard water has 61–120 mg/L of calcium.
• Hard water has 121-180 mg/L of calcium.
• Very hard water has >180 mg/L of calcium.
The best way to determine if you have hard water and would benefit from a water softener system is to have your water tested by a professional.
Limescale Buildup
Hard water is often a nuisance and can leave scale deposits on your faucets and fixtures and buildup in your plumbing. Mineral deposits, also known as limescale, can leave a cloudy film on your dishes, coffeepots, glassware, shower doors, etc., that is hard to reduce.
Hard water scale buildup doesn’t just take a toll on your household items; it affects your appliances that use water as well. This includes hot water heaters, dishwashers and washing machines, and even your plumbing system. Hard water is often the culprit for the reduced lifespan of appliances which can lead to high utility bills and replacement costs over time.
Water Heater Damage or Repairs
If your water heater has failed or malfunctioned recently, you might need a water softener. Hard water often leads to the premature aging of water heaters. Due to the nature of the heating elements within the water heater, heating hard water accelerates the formation of limescale buildup within the tank and on the hardware within the tank, which, over time, will cause it to fail or break.
Increased Utility Bills
Limescale clogs the pipes and valves in your appliances and reduces water flow, which reduces the efficiency of appliances. Not only can it affect efficiency, but it can also increase energy bills by 29% due to reduced efficiency and make them work twice as hard to do their jobs.
Inefficient Appliances
Hard water can shorten the lives of appliances by as much as 30–50%. For water heaters, every five grains per gallon of water hardness will cause a 4% loss in efficiency, and shower heads can lose 75% of their flow rate in less than 18 months. So, the harder the water, the lower the efficiency over time.
The Water Softener Solution
A high-quality water softener is essential for homeowners looking to solve their hard water issues. During the water softening process, tiny resin beads act like a sponge absorbing the hard minerals from your water, resulting in softer, mineral-free water. The simple process keeps the water clear from hardness and from transporting the minerals throughout your plumbing and water-using appliances.
Every house is unique and requires its own custom water quality solution. The best place to start is with a water quality test from a professional like Aqualite US to determine which softening solution is right for your home. The right water softener will ensure your pipes, appliances, and home are protected and keep running smoothly.
