Signs Your Home Could Use a Water Softener

Many people in the US take water for granted, regardless of its attributes, except that it is wet. However, most residents have to deal with one of its less attractive characteristics, which is toughness.

Water hardness is caused by a high concentration of minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium along with traces of other metals that dissolve naturally in drinking water.

Hard water has a negative effect on many things we do every day, such as bathing, showering, doing laundry, and doing dishes. Hard water can be a problem in any part of the country where people live.

Fortunately, its unfavorable effects can be mitigated by installing a water softener, which removes dissolved minerals by using sodium or potassium ions instead of calcium and magnesium ions. When homeowners’ water is too hard, they can see these telltale signs that they need a water softener.

• Stains

Since minerals and metals are dissolved in hard water, it can leave stubborn stains on the surface of bathtubs, toilets, and sinks, as well as white scale deposits around faucets. A temporary solution to removing stains from accessories is to soak the affected area in ½ cup of powdered detergent; When it comes to white deposits surrounding the faucet, you can spray the area with white vinegar and then let it sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing and then wiping thoroughly with a soft cloth.

• Scale accumulation

Scale or lime is mineral deposits that can accumulate on coffee makers, pots, kettles, glassware, dishes and cutlery, leaving a hard, chalky film that is difficult to remove. What can be worse is scale build-up in the water using appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, in addition to the plumbing system resulting in costly repairs.

• Higher electricity and water bills

When utility bills are surprisingly high, homeowners may want to check their home plumbing for signs of scale. Scale can build up over a period of time and clog pipes, which is why a home’s heating system works harder to get the water through. Additionally, scale build-up can affect the efficiency of water heaters and boilers.

• Gray or discolored clothing

Hard water not only makes bath and laundry soaps less effective, it also leaves a slimy residue that makes clothes fade, gray or dull, smell sour, and become rough. Also, using hard water to wash clothes can cause it to be used ahead of time.

• Dry Skin and Hair

The minerals present in hard water can make the skin dry, itchy and flaky, as well as block the pores of the skin, causing inflammation, pimples or blackheads. Soap doesn’t dissolve well in hard water, it leaves a sticky film on your skin, and it defeats its purpose of removing bacteria and dirt. This film also leaves hair dry, limp and dull.

• Water heater problems

One of the very costly and inconvenient signs that a home needs a water softener is when a water heater malfunctions or stops working. Hard water can prematurely age hot water heaters quickly, particularly electric ones, as heating hard water accelerates scale development in the tank, as well as its expensive heating elements.