It is commonplace for people to hesitate when purchasing a new appliance for their home or business, especially when there is so much information floating around that is at odds with one another. You want to feel excited about your next big purchase, not apprehensive and so this article will help put your mind at ease.
The benefits from installing a water softener are numerous, so here is a list of the most typical misconceptions you may have heard about water softeners and the truth behind them.
Before we get started it’s important that you understand the difference between hard and soft water.
Hard water is water that has a large presence of calcium and magnesium in it. These minerals are naturally occurring and the higher the amount of each mineral present in water, the higher it will rank on the hard water scale. While both essential to everyday health, calcium and magnesium are not essential for water usage. In fact, hardness in water can have detrimental effects on your home.
Soft water is free of the harsh minerals in hard water that can damage appliances, clothing, skin and hair. In other words, it is gentler on your body and your home. Without calcium and magnesium, soft water can prevent scale buildup around your home including your appliances and pipes.
Common Myths About Water Softeners
1. Water Softeners Waste Water
While ages ago this may have been true, modern day water softeners are highly efficient when it comes to water usage. The control valves now automate the regeneration process based on your home or business water usage, which means the system is not regenerating needlessly and uses as little water as possible.
Washing and bathing with hard water can, in fact, use more water because soap does not interact with hard water as well, so it takes longer to get clean and soap doesn’t lather as well with hard water.
2. Water Softeners Add an Unhealthy Amount of Sodium to Water
Water softeners use an ion exchange process to treat hard water. Salt and sodium are not the same thing, as sodium is a mineral and salt is a crystal-like compound. People confuse sodium with salt and believe that softening water leads to increased salt content in it, when in fact sodium is what is being ionized to take out the harsh hard water minerals. The quantity added is much too small to have any effects on health or skin.
3. Water Softeners Are Expensive
Like any upgrade in the home, at first you will be making an investment, but in the long run you will save money for the life of your water heater. Water softeners save you money by boosting the efficiency of your appliances, by using fewer detergents and soaps as well as keep your clothes from deteriorating as fast. The added benefits far outweigh the installation fee of this appliance.
4. Water Softeners Purify Water
Water softeners do just as they say, they soften water. They do not remove contaminants or filter your water. That job is best left to a water filtration system like a carbon filter or reverse osmosis system. If you want both soft and pure water, you should install a water filtration system in conjunction with your water softener.
5. Soft Water is Acidic
Although water softeners do lower the pH level of water, it is not nearly acidic enough to have an adverse impact on your body or other appliances.
6. You Don’t Need Soft Water in the City
This might be one of the biggest misconceptions of them all because many places have municipal water containing minerals that classify it as hard. In this case, you’ll need a water softener, no matter if you live in a city or a rural area.
What Are The Negative Effects Of Having Hard Water?
Hard water can:
- Cause a buildup of soap scum on your fixtures, bath walls, skin, hair, and clothing. Yuk! If you have this in your tub or shower stall, we have a great product to remove it
- Shorten the life of your clothing by dissolving minerals on your clothing when washed.
- Cause cloudy or spotted dishes. The same minerals that are ruining your clothing are also on your dishes and they can scratch your glassware as well.
- Give you dry skin and dry hair from the harsh minerals and soap not being washed off properly.
- Cause your pipes to clog and rust with sediment and calcium build up. This can be a costly issue.
Upgrade To A Water Softener Today
Independent Water Service can recommend and install the right water filtration system for your specific needs. We offer free water analysis and help you choose which system works for you. Our free water analysis checks for softness, impurities and other factors that may affect your household or business’ water. We offer systems for both residential and commercial spaces.
We proudly serve Yakima and Kittitas Counties and have been your local trusted water service since 1986. Call to schedule your free water analysis and upgrade your water system for your home or business with the water experts.