Do I Really Need a Water Softener?

If you live in a part of the country that has hard waters, you may be told by others that you need to install a water softener. Before you invest in this pricey system, you may want to take the time to learn whether or not it is something you really need, or want for that matter.

First, you need to understand just what it means to make waters "soft." These systems work by processing the water to remove excessive levels of dissolved minerals. These may be calcium, sulfates, magnesium, and bicarbonates. These minerals make the waters "hard." Putting them through the system makes them "soft." This is done by swapping out the "hard" minerals for sodium, or salt.

These minerals can cause problems in your home. They can make your hair dull, leave your skin feeling scratchy, and damage the plumbing in your home. By removing them from the system, you can prevent some of these problems.

You may also find that you use less soap to run your washing machine, dishwasher, and even wash your body when you have a water softener. This is because the soft waters allow the soap to do its job more effectively. You will have a richer lather, for instance, which means you need less product.

That said, these systems do cost a lot of money, and they also cost money to run. You will have to buy salt, spend extra money on electricity to run the system, and sometimes perform maintenance on the system. You will have to decide if these costs are worth the benefit you receive.

There could also be a minor health risk to installing a system. Some people find that there is a health risk in drinking softened waters. The way the minerals are removed is by swapping them for sodium. Those who need to limit their sodium levels for health reasons may find this potentially damaging to their health. Of course, the system can be set up so that the drinking water bypasses the water softener, but this is definitely a consideration to make.

To determine if you truly "need" a system, you will want to have your waters tested. Generally speaking, you want your waters to have a hardness level between 80 and 100 mg/L. If it is much higher than this, you will want to consider installing a system. If it is 500 mg/L or higher, then a system is an absolute necessity.

Of course, the answer really lies in your comfort. If you feel that your skin is constantly dry, your hair is lacking luster, and you are having other problems from hardness in your waters, then you want to consider installing a water softener. Chances are, once you install a system, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. The difference you feel will be quite amazing after you switch from hard to soft.