Water softeners are a valuable addition to the home, not only benefitting the lifespan of the home appliances and your water tank, but also helping your clothes, skin and overall ease of life.
First off, to explain why water can be ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ in the first place. Hard water is the result of containing lots of dissolved minerals, which is comprised of mostly magnesium and calcium. A water softener filters out those minerals using sodium to detach the minerals. While it’s not required to have a water softener in your home, more people are looking at installing water softeners in their home, or making it a requirement for their new home. According to KBV Research, “The North America Water Softeners Market would witness market growth of 6% CAGR during the forecast period (2019-2025).” As such, the demand for water softeners is growing.
Water softeners can last around 10 to 20 years depending on the type you buy. Feel free to contact NexLvl Services to see what options would potentially work best for you.
There are a number of benefits that come with investing in a water softener, ranging from personal care, to saving money for the home. While there are a plethora of benefits that could be listed, here are some of the most popular ones for homeowners.
Saving Money on Appliances
The more you use hard water, the more calcium and magnesium residue builds up in your pipes and water tank. This in turn puts more strain on the appliances, reducing their effectiveness and lifespan. This buildup, often referred to as scale, can also impede water heating; even worse, it can stain your faucets and water outlets on occasion. These little inconveniences can lead to major expenses in renovation — whether it means having to replace faucets or pipes, or entire water tanks. Utilizing soft water eliminates these risks and keeps you saving money in the long run while maximizing convenience. Even better, if you ever look to sell your home, a water softener increases the value of your home and makes it more appealing to potential buyers.
Clothing
Have you ever had a shirt or a pair of jeans that ended up having a random hole even though it was relatively new? You might not have been the cause of that hole — that may have been a result of not having a soft water system. Hard water’s minerals grate at clothing, causing it to lose its durability and softness. If you have bright, colorful clothing, the minerals in hard water will inevitably make your favorite outfits fade over time. Soft water requires only 50% of the detergent needed to maintain clothes washed with hard water. Furthermore, soft water helps to preserve the “new feel” of clothing without having to buy tons of fabric softener, and keeps your clothes looking as vibrant as the day you bought them.
Skin and Hair
A water softener could save you hours on your skin routine: seriously, we’re not kidding. Hard water grates at your skin, leaving a residue on your skin. Many people complain that their skin often feels dry and irritated, despite the fact that they take long showers. Even worse, hard water can lead to breakouts, as dry skin is more prone to oil buildup, which in turn makes it easier for acne to appear. Using soft water helps to reduce breakouts, as soft water doesn’t strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving your skin feeling soft and clear.
Hard water can also cause your hair to feel brittle and straw-like — leading to hair breakage or thinning. Hard water can even cause dandruff because it’s sucking the moisture out of your hair. With hard water, shampoo buildup is often a common issue, often meaning that the more shampoo you use, the worse the problem gets. This also means that those who dye their hair may notice their hair color becoming duller over time because the minerals in hard water are grating away at the color particles in their hair. Soft water, on the other hand, helps to rejuvenate your hair, keep its vibrancy and make it easier for your shampoo to come out.
Water Flavor
Hard water, because of all of the materials inside of it, can have what some describe as an ‘earthy’ or ‘chemical’ flavor. Soft water doesn’t have these flavors, as it’s stripped of minerals. Some people when hearing this, are concerned that means that the water doesn’t have the same kind of nutritional value as hard water. However, the kinds of minerals that are found in hard water are actually hard to process in the body and as such, don’t serve any extra health benefits compared to soft water. When drinking hard water, you also run the risk of having random pieces of residue floating at the bottom of your glass of water. In contrast, people often say that soft water has a smoother, more neutral taste.
Not sure if you have a water softener already, or maybe you’re on the fence about whether you really need one? If so, be aware of some of these common hard water signs in your home and decide whether soft water may be a better option:
If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to upgrade to a water softener. Water softeners are a long-term appliance that saves you money in the long run. Even more importantly, they improve your quality of life, from saving you from having to replace piping, to clothing, softer skin and hair, and even improving water flavor. Call NexLvl Services today to get a quote on what it would cost to get a water softener installed in your home.
