Hard water, which is water that contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium, can cause all sorts of problems for your household and lifestyle. Roughly 85% of homes in the United States are located in hard water areas. If your home is dealing with hard water, you have two options: You can accept the negative effects on your appliances, fixtures, plumbing, skin, and more, or you can invest in a water softening system. In the Scottsdale, AZ area, you can hire our plumbing experts at AC by J to install a water softener for your home. After a quick, painless process, you’ll be entirely free of the frustrations that come with using hard water.
What Does a Water Softener Do?
When you’re in the market for a water softening system, there are a couple of different kinds you can choose from. Traditional chemical water softeners use special resin and either salt or potassium to regenerate your water. While these water softening systems will eliminate the effects of hard water, they have several downsides as well. For one, they leave you with water that you can’t use on grass or plants. Secondly, they don’t actually filter contaminants from your water, and they remove certain vital minerals.
At AC by J, we use Halo 5 water treatment solution to soften your water. The Halo 5 systems use multi-reversing magnetic fields to condition water. The systems also utilize four stages of water filtration to remove chlorine and other contaminants from the water. That way, by the time it reaches your faucets, it’s softened, clean, and great-tasting. Plus, the Halo 5 system will remove excess calcium and magnesium from your water while leaving the minerals that are good for your health.
So, why is it worth it to invest in a quality water softening system? Most likely, if you have one installed, you’ll quickly begin to notice positive differences in several areas of your day-to-day life.
Cleaner Fixtures, Dishes, and Silverware
One of the issues with using hard water is the annoying mineral deposits that it leaves behind on your fixtures, dishes, and silverware. Sometimes, it feels like no matter how many times you wash those surfaces or how hard you scrub, you can never get them entirely clean. Usually, these mineral deposits present themselves in the form of a cloudy appearance and little water spots. Ultimately, the only surefire way to get rid of that hard water buildup is to purchase a water softening system. Not only will your faucets, sinks, silverware, and dishes look bright and shiny again, but you’ll also save a ton of time by not needing to re-wash them.
Healthier Plumbing
With a water softening system installed, your home’s plumbing system is likely to be far healthier and more efficient. Hard water leaves behind chalky limescale residue when it flows through your pipes, and that gunk can cause several serious problems. The greatest hazard of scale buildup is its ability to result in leaky or otherwise damaged pipes. Unfortunately, once your plumbing develops that type of damage, the only way to remedy it is with a costly and time-consuming repair job. The other issue with scale in your pipes is the fact that it can clog them up. If enough residue accumulates, it will gradually begin to block the flow of water through your plumbing system. This will weaken your water pressure, and your household pump will need to burn through more energy to compensate. As a result, you’ll see your monthly electricity bills rise significantly.
Having a water softener eliminates the potential for these frustrating problems. Since softened water doesn’t contain a high concentration of calcium or magnesium, it doesn’t leave behind any hazardous residue.
Cleaner, Healthier, and More Comfortable Skin and Hair
Many people in hard water areas regularly suffer from cracked, itchy, irritated skin and dry, brittle hair without having any idea what’s causing it. When you shower or take baths with hard water, the calcium and magnesium ions pull the natural oils out of your skin and hair. As a result, you’ll frequently notice that your skin and hair feel dry and uncomfortable after you finish bathing.
Bathing with softened water, on the other hand, will have very different effects. For one thing, the lack of calcium and magnesium makes soft water more soluble with soap, allowing you to achieve a better lather and a deeper clean. Plus, it’s far easier for your skin to absorb softened water, which will leave it feeling soft and comfortable. As for your hair, softened water can actually help balance its pH level, resulting in richer color and a softer, smoother texture. If you’re currently bathing with hard water, you may not always notice the adverse effects. However, if you have a water softening system installed, you will quickly notice a positive difference.
Healthier and More Efficient Appliances
Having a water softening system will also improve the condition of your water-based appliances. With hard water, the scale residue will impact the efficiency, performance, and life expectancy of many household systems, including your water heater, laundry machine, dishwasher, ice machine, and coffee maker. When you make the transition to soft water, though, those appliances will last longer, require less energy, and do their jobs more effectively.
Cleaner, Softer Clothing
When you wash your clothing with hard water, there are a few common negative effects. Firstly, the mineral deposits from the water will leave stains behind and cause the colors of the clothing to fade. Additionally, the whites may become dingy, and since hard water isn’t very soluble with detergent, much of the dirt and grime may remain on the fabric. When you run your laundry with soft water, though, your clothing will be in much better shape. The softened water will leave the fabric feeling new and soft to the touch, and since it will be able to dissolve into the clothing more effectively, it will do a much better cleaning job as well. In fact, since soft water is able to dissolve laundry detergent so well, you’ll probably be able to use less of it per load, which will save you some money over time.
Telltale Signs of Hard Water
If you’re trying to determine whether or not you need a water softening system, there are a handful of symptoms you can look for:
- Watermarks on your silverware, dishes, and fixtures
- Strange tasting water
- Low water pressure
- Fading clothing colors
- Dry, itchy skin after showering
- Appliances regularly breaking down
If you observe some or all of these red flags, consider calling up your local plumbing experts and investing in a high-quality water softener. Not only will you enjoy lifestyle benefits, but the system will likely pay for itself over time.
Whether you’re looking for expert plumbing, heating, cooling, or indoor air quality services, we at AC by J are a reliable option in the greater Scottsdale area. Since 1983, we’ve been proudly serving the residents of our area. We’re locally-owned, locally-operated, and family-oriented, and we want to help keep you comfortable year-round. Over the years, we’ve built a reputation for efficiency and getting every job done right the first time. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, contact our offices at AC by J now.
