Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to use a water softener. It needs less than $3 in electricity year-round.2
A water softener only needs about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.
Soft water can make cleaning take less time, help your appliances work longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can create 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 maintains the luster and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.
Soft water is lacks minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or constrict water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to build up in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form limescale when they become warm. This can cover the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular repairs or need to be exchanged earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on soft water maintain the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can cut efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you use an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can decrease the life of your heating element, because it has to work more to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals accumulate on your skin and in your hair, making it dry out. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look less faded and your dishes will look more flawless.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use additional soap for a good lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This creates a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less soap.