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Water Conditioning
A water conditioning system will give you softer water as well as longer-lasting appliances and plumbing fixtures. You'll also save time and effort in cleaning the house and reduce wear and tear on water fixtures and plumbing. Hard water isn't an issue of water pollution, but more of having more minerals than you want in your water. Water quality has many faces, and many solutions.
In many parts of the United States, Canada and Europe, hard water is considered a problem and as a result, the market for water conditioning systems is growing. In simple terms, hard water is water that contains small deposits of calcium carbonate and magnesium minerals that leave mineral deposits. These deposits eventually clog appliances and plumbing, and even impact your daily life in ways you may not realize. The solution to these problems may be in the purchase and use of water conditioning systems that soften your water.
Do You Have Hard Water?
Depending on where you live and the quality of your water, hard water may or may not impact you. However, it is estimated that 85 percent of the homes in the U.S. and Canada have hard water, which means that most people in these countries use hard water in their daily lives. Water conditioning may be just what you need to avoid the negative effects of hard water.
What are the Effects of Hard Water?
Appliances:
Appliances that you use every day, such as water heaters, washing machines, dish washers, air conditioners, and humidifiers can be severely damaged by the mineral buildup caused by hard water. These appliances don't work as efficiently as the mineral deposits increase, which decreases the life of the appliance. Plus, hard water inhibits proper sudsing to clean clothes and dishes, making clothes gray and dishes spotty.
Plumbing:
The mineral deposits that build up in your plumbing pipes and water fixtures can reduce the flow of water, which can seriously affect your water pressure. Plus, the mineral buildup in water heaters means that more energy is required to heat the water. As the minerals continue to build up, water heaters will burn out much more quickly than normal.
Cleaning:
When minerals combine with soap, clothes become gray and wear out faster, soap scum builds up on showers and tubs faster, glassware and silverware has spots, and your hair is heavy and dull.
Is There a Solution to the Effects of Hard Water?
Fortunately, water conditioning systems that soften water (or remove the mineral deposits) can eliminate all of the negative impacts of hard water. Interestingly, soft water is only found in nature before rain touches the earth. After that and as the rain falls to the ground, it picks up impurities in the air and in the soil.
As hard water flows through a water conditioning system, most of the mineral deposits are removed, leaving softer water that can make living easier. The benefits of investing in a water conditioning system can negate all the problems caused by hard water.
* Appliances will work more efficiently, which means that they won’t need as much maintenance and will have longer lives.
* Your heating bill will be smaller because your water heater will work more efficiently and won't require as much energy to heat your house.
* Your clothes will look cleaner and will not wear out as quickly.
* Your dishes and silverware will not be spotty and will be cleaner.
* Your skin will feel softer, and your hair will be look healthier and will be easier to manage.
* Rings and soap scum won't build up around your tub or on your shower walls or curtain.
Whether you consider water conditioning to be a necessity or luxury, it certainly will help with the very real damage caused by hard water. Aside from the benefits of feeling cleaner and having cleaner looking clothes, having softer water will save you money. You'll not only save money in electricity, appliances, soaps and detergents, but you'll also save valuable time in the task of cleaning. Ultimately, investing in a water conditioning system may cost less in the long run than your initial investment in the system.
