7 Signs Your Home Needs a Water Softener
We compiled some of the reasons why your home could benefit from a Water Softener.
Most people across the United States have to confront one of the waters’ most unappealing aspects, HARDNESS. Water hardness is the measurement of dissolved minerals and metals in our drinking water.
This hardness, mostly calcium and magnesium, negatively impacts our everyday activities such as showering, doing laundry, and doing the dishes. The U.S. Geological Survey shows a wide array of mineral levels in our drinking water across the United States. This survey found the softest waters in New England, the South Atlantic gulf states, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii. The hardest was measured in New Mexico, Kansas, Arizona, southern California, and you guessed it. TEXAS! Even though water hardness is such a prevalent issue here in Texas, the problems can be mitigated by installing a water softener designed specifically to remove the hardness ions from your water. Is your water hard? Then it’s time to soften up! Here are seven signs your home needs a water softener.
#1 Results of a Professional Water Analysis
The best way to determine if you would benefit from a water softener is to have it tested by a water conditioning professional. United Waterworks offers both free in-home and contactless water analysis with the results in minutes. Water hardness is classified according to hardness levels measured in both parts per million (ppm) and milligrams per liter (mg/l). 1ppm – 3ppm is classified as slightly hard, 4ppm – 7ppm is moderately hard, 8ppm – 12ppm is hard, and more than 12ppm is very hard. ☹ Time to soften up!
#2 Staining
Hard water contains not only dissolved minerals but also dissolved metals as well. This combination can create ugly, stubborn stains in your bathtubs, sinks, dishwashers, and more. A Sentinel water softener is designed to remove these positively charged ions in the water and, in most cases, stop the staining. In certain situations like well water, additional Sentinel filtration may be needed to remove water with extremely high levels of iron, hydrogen sulfide, or other extreme contaminants that can be found in rural well water. ☹ Time to soften up!
#3 Scale Buildup
Mineral deposits, also known as scale or limescale, can build up and even ruin your cookware, coffee pots, kettles, glassware faucets, and fixtures. This condition leaves a hard, chalky film that’s difficult or impossible to remove. Even worse, a scale can build up inside appliances that use water, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and hot water heaters, leading to expensive repairs. ☹ Time to soften up!
#4 Higher Utility Bills
Rising utility costs may be associated with scale buildup in your home’s plumbing. Over time, scale buildup can clog pipes and appliances, causing your appliances to work harder than usual. They can struggle to draw and use water the way they were initially designed. ☹ Time to soften up!
#5 Gray or Faded Laundry
Hard water makes laundry detergents and soap less effective and can leave behind residue that causes your clothing and linens to appear faded, dull, or gray, have a smell or become rough or scratchy. Hard water can even cause premature wear of the fabrics. ☹ Time to soften up!
#6 Dry Skin and Hair
Minerals in your water can cause your hair to be dry and dull. Your hair ever feel like straw once it dries after a shower? Water hardness can also cause your skin to feel dry, flaky, and itchy. The calcium and magnesium in your water can clog your skin’s pores, causing inflammation, pimples, or blackheads. ☹ Time to soften up!
#7 Water Heater Woes
Having your water heater malfunction or completely fail is one of the most inconvenient and costliest signs you need a water softener. Hard water can rapidly age a water heater, especially electric water heaters because heating hard water accelerates scale formation inside the water heater tank in and around the expensive heating element. A defenseless water heater can struggle and burn out when you have hard water. ☹ Time to soften up!
Have one or more of these problems? Time to SOFTEN UP!!!