How much do you understand about the water softener in your home and what it does for the quality of your water? Do you really need a water softener to decrease the hardness level in your water? Is your home’s water supply even hard in the first place? While most homeowners understand why water filtration is so critical, many still aren’t quite sure what hard water means and how to properly fix it. Here’s what every homeowner should know about the benefits of water softeners.
What Is Hard Water?
Hard water is a term used to refer to water that has elevated levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Studies show that over 85% of the United States has some degree of hardness present in the water. Hard water is not ideal for a home because the minerals can accumulate in pipes, damage plumbing over time, cause excess wear and tear on washing machines and dishwashers and even stain your clothing and linens. Hard water also typically has trouble lathering and rinsing soaps and detergents.
Hard water is treated using water softeners. One of the main benefits of water softeners is that they get rid of the excess calcium and magnesium and replace them with sodium ions that only marginally change the levels of sodium in your water. The best way to understand if you have hard water is through water testing, but there are other signs that can indicate an issue.
What Are the Signs That You Have Hard Water?
- Limescale: Limescale is a crusty, white substance that will accumulate on plumbing fixtures like faucets and sinks.
- Spots on Glassware: Another sign of hard water is spots or fogginess left behind on glasses after being washed.
- Stained or Rough Clothing: Hardness minerals will gradually damage the fabric that your clothing is made from, and it can make them feel rough and scratchy. Sometimes detergent won’t wash out easily, so your clothes might also feel tough or unclean to the touch.
- Rashes: Showering in hard water often dries out your hair and skin, so you might feel unclean even after you took a shower.
- Plumbing Issues: If you notice plumbing issues that seem to occur over and over again or that your pipes wear quickly, this could indicate an issue with water hardness.
What Are the Benefits of Water Softeners?
There are many different benefits of water softeners, and that is why they make such a fantastic investment for many homeowners. Because the water will lather soaps better, your hair and skin will feel better. Soap will wash from your hair and skin completely, and it will also be thoroughly washed from your clothing. You won’t have unsightly spots on your mirrors and glasses due to minerals being left behind.
Beyond the practical benefits of water softeners, there are also many financial benefits of investing in a water softening system. You will extend the lifespan of all of your household appliances that use water including ice machines, coffee makers, water heaters, washing machines and more. You also won’t need to use as much soap and shampoo due to the improved lather. Hard water can also ruin the warranty status on your water heater, so softening your water will ensure that your warranty is active for as long as possible in the event that you need repairs. The money that you save every day might not seem like a lot, but it adds up over the months and years as you need to replace things less frequently than before.
How to Reap the Benefits of Water Softeners
One of the best ways to start experiencing the benefits of water softeners for yourself is by choosing the right one. There are many different water softeners available through Hague Quality Water of Maryland, and we can help you choose the right one for your preferences and your situation. We have many different models of water softening solutions that will improve your water quality and ease all of the side effects of hard water at your home. One of our most popular solutions is the Hague WaterMax® System. It’s fully customizable and carefully designed to meet your needs.
Experience the Benefits of Water Softeners with Hague Quality Water of Maryland
If you suspect you may have hard water, the water treatment specialists at Hague Quality Water of Maryland can help. For your convenience, we offer a mail-in water test kit that allows you to test your water from the convenience of your own home. Our water treatment professionals will use the results of this comprehensive water test to select the best treatment option for your home. Click here to order your kit right now. Customers can also drop off water samples for testing at our facility. We are here to assist you with your water improvement projects in Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, Queen Anne’s County, and beyond. Call Hague Quality Water of Maryland at (410) 757-2992 for more information about our services.
