The Department of Energy (DOE) recommends a water softener as a great addition to any home. Water hardness refers to the concentration of calcium and magnesium. Water is moderately hard at 61 milligrams per liter and can have a wide range of undesirable effects. A water softener is a point-of-entry plumbing system that softens water. Although there are many types of water softeners, most operate on the same fundamental principle. They soften the water by exchanging the calcium and magnesium with either sodium or potassium. Let’s explore the many benefits a water softener can have for your family and home.
Plumbing Health
The plumbing industry estimates hard water costs the average household $800 annually. This is one reason the DOE recommends a water softener as a good investment for all homes. Even the most expensive systems will pay for themselves within half their lifespans.
There are a range of factors that contribute to that estimate. A significant factor is plumbing maintenance, repair, and replacement costs. Calcium and magnesium build up in your home’s pipes over time as limescale. That accumulation decreases water pressure but increases pressure in the plumbing. Limescale eventually leads to corrosion that deteriorates pipes, valves, fixtures, and other aspects of your plumbing system.
Water Heater Efficiency and Longevity
Limescale is a big problem for water heaters. It creates additional pressure within the system and causes heating elements and exchangers to wear down faster. Hard water results in valves failing sooner, and it even eats away at the inner walls of a tank. That is why tank water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod that you’re supposed to replace every several years or so. Plumbers also recommend annual maintenance, including flushing limescale and sediment tanks and descaling tankless water heaters. Hard water reduces the lifespan of a water heater by up to 50%. It also causes inefficiency, increasing energy consumption by up to 50%.
Better for Hydronic Heating Systems
Hard water is terrible for boiler systems and hot water boilers, in particular, for similar reasons. It causes scaling, corrosion, and clogging. Limescale is a problem within the tank and for the internal boiler components. It also damages components outside of the system. Those include pipes and tubes, wall and baseboard radiators, and radiant heating panels. Annual maintenance is a must. Even with that maintenance, homeowners should expect higher operating costs and a relatively short lifespan. Hard water often causes boilers to fail within 12 years rather than last 20 or more.
Longevity and Efficiency of Other Appliances
The problem with limescale and appliances extends beyond water heaters and boilers. It affects every appliance in your home that uses water. The restriction of water flow increases electricity consumption by a nontrivial amount. It also shortens appliance lifespan. The Water Quality Association (WQA) attempted to quantify this loss in a study. Its research supported the industry estimate that limescale reduces water heater life by half. Washing machines using hard water went from an average of 11 to 7.7 years. Dishwashers lost about three years of life. It also found significantly shorter lifespans for toilets, faucets, and showerheads.
Reduced Risk of Mold Growth
Mold requires two things to flourish: moisture and organic matter to feed on. Limescale provides a perfect breeding ground for mold because it builds up in pipes and walls. Mold can grow in pipes and affect the taste and smell of water. It can also make your home more prone to mold in bathrooms and kitchens.
Improved Drinking Water
Mold is one way that limescale can affect your drinking water. Even without mold, hard water can affect it. While limescale won’t typically affect taste or smell, it can impact flavor overall. People often perceive hard water as being chalky and leaving an unpleasant mouth feel. With a water softener, the water from your tap will be clearer and smoother.
Better Tasting Food and Drink
Hard water affects the drinks you make with it because of chalkiness and chemical reactions. These reactions happen between the minerals and alcohol, juices, drink mixes, etc. Chemical reactions are an even more significant concern when cooking because there’s heat involved. You’ll find that your recipes can be a bit more unpredictable with hard water. Soft water leads to more consistency.
Cleaning Product Effectiveness
Hard water reduces the effectiveness of cleaning products. In its study of washing machines, the WGA found that detergent effectiveness was decreased by as much as 70%. Hard water also substantially affects detergents in dishwashers. Glasses and other dishes washed in soft water are generally spot-free. Clothes washed in soft water are typically smoother and more vibrant in color. Hard water causes clothes to lose their color faster over time.
Streak-Free Car Washes
Hard water causes spots and streaks when you wash your car, causing blemishes on windows and the body. This problem is so prevalent that car detailers have a solution. They wash the car and then apply a vinegar-water mixture to the spots before waxing. With a water softener, you can wash and wax without intermediary steps.
Enhanced Shower Experiences
Many people find showering less pleasant with hard water because it is more abrasive and harsh on the skin, leaving it dry and itchy. It also doesn’t lather soap as thoroughly as soft water, leaving behind a residue that can make you feel less clean. These are some of the reasons why showerheads are sold with integrated hard water filters.
Improved Skin and Hair Health
Hard water can negatively impact your skin and hair health. Contact can cause dryness, itchiness, and discomfort. The minerals can also clog your pores. That can lead to acne, eczema, and dermatitis. If you’re already prone to those skin issues, hard water can exacerbate them and make them more challenging to treat. Hard water dulls hair color. It also makes hair frizzy, brittle, and more prone to tangling and breaking.
Other Considerations
A whole-house water softening system can be a significant investment but a worthwhile one. With proper maintenance, these systems can last for 15 years or more. That means they’ll often pay for themselves through higher water efficiency and lower maintenance and repair costs. A water softener also makes a home you’re selling or renting more appealing.
It’s important to note that water softening isn’t a cure-all for water quality issues. If you’re concerned with contaminants and pollutants in your water, pair the softener with a water filtration system. Likewise, if your water is too acidic, you’ll need a water conditioner to lower the pH.
Water Softener Installation in Falmouth and West Boylston
DeWolfe Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has served homeowners and businesses throughout Falmouth, West Boylston, and the surrounding areas for over 90 years. Our HVAC technicians specialize in furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits. We also install, repair, and clean ducts and install and service whole-home air purification systems. Our plumbers pipe and repipe gas, water, and sewer lines.
We perform camera inspections, clean drains, and repair and replace sewers. Our plumbing team also installs and repairs toilets, faucets, sump pumps, tank and tankless water heaters, garbage disposals, and water treatment systems. Call today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or in-home consultation.
