While some people have a water softener installed the minute that they move into a new home, others are not so keen. Water softeners seem like an oddly controversial subject, with plenty of members of the general public dead set against their use. This is primarily due to most people being unsure precisely what water softener systems are, when they should be used, and the benefits that they come with. While the significant benefits of soft water are widely known, there are some additional reasons why a water softener might be the best thing that you ever install in your home.
The Benefits of Water Softeners
Many people are very resistant to the idea of installing water softener systems in their homes, due to a lack of awareness about the very real benefits. If you’re not sure what those benefits are, this list might surprise you!
1: Water softener systems save you money
Hard water causes mineral buildup in your pipes, making it more difficult for water to get through, so you loose volume of water. That mineral buildup also makes it harder to heat or cool your water, damages your appliances and, invariably, results in replacing dishwashers, washing machines, faucet parts, kettles, and even ice makers. As well as the plumbing, water softener systems save you money on your gas and electric bills!
2: You get cleaner!
Soap lathers up really well in soft water, so you get a better lather every time you take a shower or bath. The mineral ions that you tend to find in hard water make it harder to get clean, and they can also dry your skin out. Hard water causes dry skin because it washes your natural oils off your skin. This can result in skin irritations and itching. As for your hair, washing in soft water does a great job of balancing your pH level. That makes your hair shinier, cleaner, smoother, and less brittle.
3: So do your clothes!
Soft water systems aren’t just good for making you look and feel cleaner than ever; they do the same thing to what you wear as well. Hard water speeds up the color fade that is the bane of all clothes washing. Soft water not only helps stop fading, it even helps keep your whites white. Nobody wants those tired-looking grey clothes that used to be white! A water softener setup can keep your clothes looking good, so you won’t have to replace them so often (saving you even more money!).
4: Cleaner plates?
That’s right. If your home is currently without a water softener system, then you’re probably sick of not getting your plates and glasses shining and sparkly clean. Hard water leaves cloudy residues, and you can clean your glasses, silverware, or dishes as many times as you like, but you’re going to struggle to get rid of that cloudy coating. You don’t have that problem with soft water. Let’s not forget that because of the way that soaps and detergents work with soft water, your dishwasher will be working much more efficiently and effectively too.
5: Time-saving
Do you spend way too much time scrubbing sinks, getting rid of limescale in the shower, or re-washing your laundry? Then it’s time to call a plumber Topeka because you can cut that time down dramatically. Soft water means little to no chalky buildup in your shower and bath, your washing up will be faster and more effective, and you’ll find that you’re spending less time on cleaning than you used to.
6: Easier Gardening
A good soft water system will get rid of chlorine in your water. That means gardeners don’t have to worry about their more delicate plants. Most gardeners have to let tap water settle for a while before watering their plants, but a water softening system means that you can get straight to refreshing your favorite plants without delay.
Why Do I Need a Water Softener?
If you live in a hard water area, then the chances are that you need a good soft water system. One of the reasons why people are sometimes resistant to spending money on good soft water systems is that they don’t even realize that they are living with hard water. They simply live with the effects and think nothing of it. The fact is that almost 85% of the US is classified as being a hard water area. You can tell if you need a soft water system if you recognize any of the following signs:
- Watermarks on your faucets
- Your white clothes are looking very grey
- The sinks and showers of your home have a buildup of lime or chalk
- Tap water has an overly metallic taste
- You itch after a shower, and your skin is excessively dry
- The water pressure in your taps and shower is getting lower
- Your appliances break down more than you would expect
- Dishes, cups, and glasses have watermarks or grey, cloudy residue
If these sound familiar, then it might be time to Blackburn Plumbing who can install a soft water system for much less than you might think. Installing a water softener can protect your home and your bank balance more than you might expect. Talk to you Blackburn Plumbing today, and you could be feeling the benefits before you know it !