If you are like most homeowners, you probably think that your tap water is just fine. But what if we told you that your water might be causing damage to your home and appliances? In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about water softeners and how they can help improve the quality of your water. We will also dispel some common myths about water softeners!
What is a Water Softener?
A water softener is a device that is used to treat hard water. Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cause a variety of problems, such as:
- buildup of scale on pipes and appliances
- reduced efficiency of water-using appliances
- staining of fixtures and clothing
Hard water forms when water picks up soluble minerals like calcium and magnesium carbonates while passing through limestone and chalk deposits underground. Drinking hard water can have some health benefits, but hard water can also cause skin conditions, defective plumbing, unsightly mineral deposits on sinks and appliances, and other nuisances. This is why many households have water softeners installed to remove these minerals from their water supply system. A water softener uses an ion exchange process to replace minerals in household water with sodium ions.
Soft water is much gentler on plumbing systems than hard water is, and it can extend the life of appliances and pipes. Soft water has numerous other benefits as well.
How to tell if you have hard water:
- Your laundry is stiff and dull, and the whites appear grayish.
- Your skin is itchy or susceptible to rashes, and your hair is dry and flat.
- Your appliances and plumbing fixtures have white limescale or calcium buildup. Porcelain is stained.
- Your water pressure is low. Showers and sinks won’t flow steadily or fully.
- Your sinks and toilets seem to clog easily and drain slowly.
- Your dishes are foggy, have water spots and break more easily.
- You purchased a hard water testing kit from a hardware store and got affirmative results.
A properly installed and maintained water softener will eliminate your hard water issues. Ask the professionals at Clear Drain Plumbing to install yours so you can be on your way to a healthier body and plumbing system.
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