A water softener is a device that removes hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium from water. The use of a water softener can provide a range of benefits for the home. These include softer skin and hair, cleaner clothes, longer-lasting appliances, and the ability to save money on soap and other cleaning products. In this article, we will take a closer look at the benefits of using a water softener, as well as some of the potential disadvantages.
5 Advantages of a water softener
1. Softer Skin
Have you ever noticed that your skin is feeling dry and itchy? It might be the result of hard water in your showers. But don’t worry – with a little help from a water softening system, those days will soon be gone. Imagine silky-smooth skin without having to slather on extra lotions or struggle against pesky spots! Ditch the dry, scaly skin and say hello to a luxurious glow!
A water softener can do wonders for your complexion by removing pesky minerals like calcium and magnesium that wreak havoc on our skin (and cost us more in soap!). Plus, you’ll be left with no more nasty water spots in the bathroom – just smooth and supple happiness.
2. Shinier Hair
Show off your sleek hair with soft water! Hard water can cause some serious ‘mane’ problems, leaving you feeling limp and lifeless. But don’t worry – a little-known secret of the beauty world is using a water softener to revive damaged locks. It’s like giving yourself an At Home Salon Treatment; just give it a whirl and watch those split ends disappear faster than shampoo bubbles in a warm shower!
Soft water has been shown to be the key for restoring your mane’s luster. For those of us whose tap water is packed full of minerals we can break out a trusty old Water Softener, because this handy gadget will remove most of the unwanted junk so that hair product can do its job properly – leaving you looking fabulous once again.
3. Shinier Clothes
Having a water softening system installed in your home can be incredibly beneficial for your clothing. Softened water is easier on fabrics, leaving them feeling softer to the touch and lasting much longer than they would otherwise. Research has found that clothes washed in softened water last around 25% longer than those washed without a softener. The difference is particularly noticeable when it comes to more delicate fabrics, like silk or lace, which will benefit greatly from the gentleness of softened water.
Softened water also helps reduce fading and keep dyes looking brighter for longer.That way, you won’t have to worry about your favorite items of clothing looking worn or faded after just a few washes. Additionally, detergent and fabric softener can work better with softer water. This means less residue and buildup on your garments over time, resulting in fewer costly cleaning bills down the road. All-in-all, having a water softening system installed can lead to longer lasting clothes that look as good as new after each wash!
4. Longer lasting appliances
Hard water can cause a variety of problems for appliances, including reducing their efficiency and increasing the amount of time and energy needed to complete tasks. Over time, these problems can lead to appliances breaking down and needing to be replaced more frequently. A water softener can be used to improve the longevity of your appliances by removing hard minerals from the water that build up in the pipes and fixtures.
This can help to make the water softer and more effective at cleaning and rinsing, which can reduce the amount of time and energy required to complete tasks. Additionally, by reducing soap scum and other buildups, a water softener can help to prevent appliances from becoming clogged and damaged over time. Overall, using a water softener can help to keep your appliances working efficiently and effectively for longer.
5. Save Money on Soap
Hard water effects all cleaning materials. This leads to using more soap and cleaning supplies to achieve the same level of cleanliness. This can quickly add up, leading to higher costs for soap and other cleaning products.
A water softener can help to save money by using less cleaning products. When a softener is added to a home, much less soap/cleaning materials are needed to achieve the same level of cleaning. Softeners make all-natural soaps much more effective as well. Additionally, by reducing soap scum and other buildups, a water softener can help to prevent the need for using harsh and expensive cleaning products to remove these buildups and water spots. Overall, using a water softener can help to save money on soap and other cleaning products.
A water softener is beneficial because it can lead to softer skin, shinier hair, cleaner clothes, longer lasting appliances, and can save money on soap. By removing hard minerals such as calcium and magnesium from water, a water softener can make water less harsh on the skin and hair, improve the effectiveness of laundry detergent, prevent appliance damage, and reduce the amount of soap needed to achieve the same level of cleanliness. Overall, using a water softener can provide a range of benefits for the home.
However, water softeners do not provide a universal solution to water. There are many disadvantages to a water softener.
5 Disadvantages of a water softener
1. Cost:
Water softeners can be expensive to install and maintain, as they require regular salt refills and need to be serviced by a professional yearly. Additionally, the cost of replacing the internal parts of a water softener after heavy usage can add up over time.
2. Ineffective:
A water softener is not designed to remove all contaminants from drinking water, such as bacteria or viruses, which means that it cannot provide comprehensive filtration like a full system can. This also means that it may not even effectively reduce hard water spots or other mineral buildup. This is because the incoming water contains other contaminants along with calcium and magnesium ions.
3. Lots of maintenance:
Water softeners need regular maintenance, including salt refills and filter changes, in order to remain effective. This requires additional effort on behalf of the user and can become costly if not done regularly or properly maintained over time.
4. Space Requirements:
Water softeners tend to be large appliances compared to their filtration counterparts, taking up more space in the home. The brine tank needs adequate space for salt storage and proper drainage area for when it regenerates itself back into its original form (through a process called brining). Such tanks usually have to be located near a drain line for an easier setup process but often take up more floor space than is available in many homes.
5. Environmental Impact:
Water softeners use sodium chloride (salt) as part of the process of removing minerals from hard water; this is then released back into the environment when discharged from sewage systems or septic tanks through ground runoff into local streams or rivers.
As such, some environmentalists argue that this could have considerable effects on aquatic life due to rapid salinization from elevated levels of sodium chloride in the surrounding waters, although research on this topic is still inconclusive at this point in time due to a lack of data regarding long-term impacts across varying ecosystems around the world.
Every home needs softening features. However, as seen above, additional filtration stages may be necessary. This is why Clean Water Co created our 7-stage whole home water filtration system. Here is what makes our system different:
About Our Company and System
Our system was designed and manufactured in the US. Clean Water Co water purification and softening system has seven stages of filtration and contains a highly specialized combination of KDF 55 & 85 granules. This combination will reduce 99.9% of bacteria, disinfectants, and heavy metals from the water. The product also has a built-in salt system to soften hard water.
To address the sodium issue, we add an additional layer of active carbon after the resin beads. In addition, CWC’s system is maintenance-free and designed to last 10 to 15 years. The whole house unit is about six feet tall and is installed next to the water heater. An under-the-sink reverse osmosis system is also available to provide pure drinking water from the tap.
There is no rival to this system on the market.
All homes are different. Before you move forward with a system, be sure to make an educated decision by determining the quality of your water first.
Order your water test kit today! Click here.
Want to understand your local water quality? EWG.org can be a valuable resource – simply search by zip code for an overview of the H2O in your area. While results may vary, it’s a great place to start building knowledge about what you’re drinking!
