Water Softener Fact Sheet- Information You Need to Know

To understand the topic of water softening you first need to understand what hard water is. Hard water is made up of a number of minerals that water combines with in the ground. Two of these minerals are calcium and magnesium. Both of these minerals can wreak havoc with the water system in your home. The lime residue that appears on the fixtures in your bathroom is caused by these minerals in your water. The same can be said for the soapy scum that you notice on your drinking glasses.

Hard water is okay to drink and also to use for gardening purposes but it can lead to mineral build-up in everything from pipes, to dishwashers to water heaters and showerheads. As a result of this, the flow of water is reduced. If you have hard water then you will also notice that both soap and shampoo do not lather as much. In fact your hair and skin may even feel different if you have hard water as opposed to soft water! Over time laundry can take on a duller and a stiffer look because of the hard water that it is washed in.

Hard water is broken down into five classifications and is measured by grains per gallon (GPG). The classifications include soft, slightly hard, moderately hard, hard and very hard.

If your water is hard (which would be 7.1 to 10.5 gpg) then it might be a very good idea to think about purchasing a water softener. In most cases groundwater is hard and this is the water that residents receive in many areas of the country. If you reside in a rural community you may not have a water service in your area and may receive your water from a private well or a communal well.

For those who are not sure if they have hard water or not call your water utility or department to find out. If your water comes from a well then get in touch with a water softening business that can do a test on the water to determine if it is hard and if so, what its level of hardness is. From there you will be able to decide if a water softener is right for you or not.

A water softener can be beneficial in reducing the level of hardness in your household water supply. By softening your water, cleaning your clothes and washing your dishes will be easier and there will be no dullness or residue to worry about. You will also find that taking showers and washing your hair will be better. When you use a water softener you require a lesser amount of soap to bathe and to do your laundry in. Your clothes will be softer and brighter and your skin and hair will feel cleaner.

Your plumbing will be in better shape thanks to the installation of a water softener. There will be less scale build-up on your pipes, fixtures and your appliances. As a result of this everything will work more efficiently and more effectively. Minerals can also give rise to odors. When you put in a softening system these odors will be reduced. As well you will be left with a lesser number of deposit stains on your bathroom faucets.