Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to use a water softener. It consumes less than $3 in electricity year-round.2
A water softener only has to have about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.
Soft water can make cleaning easier, help your appliances work longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow smoothly in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral deposits to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can cause clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in fewer than 18 months. Soft water keeps the brilliance and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is doesn’t have a lot of minerals. It doesn’t leave deposits in pipes or restrict water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to become concentrated in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water turn into limescale when they become warm. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need frequent repairs or need to be replaced earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water maintains the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters running on soft water keep the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year life span. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can lower efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you own an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can pile up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a poor heat conductor. It can shorten the life of your heating element, because it has to work harder to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals collect on your skin and in your hair, causing it to look dull. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is superior at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have smoother skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will look more flawless.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a decent lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to spend as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.