A water softener is an appliance designed to reduce the presence of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, in tap water. Water with a high concentration of these minerals is referred to as “hard water,” which can lead to long term damage in plumbing systems and negative effects on hygiene.
Through ion exchange, a process that swaps out hard ions for softer ones, softeners soften the water by replacing magnesium and calcium for sodium or potassium.
You might be aware of the benefits of soft water but you’re wondering how you can incorporate in your home. Using water softener has the potential of cutting incidences of psoriasis and eczema, especially among children. As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your family’s health is well taken care of. That is why you should reach out to Pristine Water Softeners if you’re looking for a water softener solution for the home. Here are some of the lesser-known benefits you could be getting should you decide to use water softeners in your home.
1. Reduce Energy Bills
There are so many appliances in the home that uses water. From the washing machine to the coffee machine, they all rely on water to function. Such appliances are likely to function efficiently when soft water is being used. You don’t have to worry about limescale clogging the pipes or interfering with the heat transfer process.
Hard water requires more energy to heat, as limescale and calcium build-up insulate hot water tanks and pipes, meaning higher temperatures must be maintained for a longer period of time. Soft water flows easily; this helps increase the efficiency of electric and gas-powered heating systems, while also reducing wear and tear on appliances as they’re not being required to work harder than necessary.
If you’re conscious about what you spend on utilities every month, investing in a water softener is a wise decision.
According to statistics, a water heater will use 29% less energy if it is soft water compared to hard water. Hard water minimizes energy transfer and this means more energy will be needed in order to heat up the water. This could lead to high energy costs in the long run.
2. Prolonged Life of Appliances and Pipes
Limescale on pipes is known to cause galvanized corrosion. This means that it will eat the surface of literally anything that can conduct electricity. You might have to replace the pipes in your home after a few years because of the hard water.
Other than the pipes, there are household appliances that you should also be worried about. You might have to scrub the appliances a lot more often than you’d like using soft water because of the sediments that are always forming. You will notice scales on your coffee maker which is never a nice scene. The scratches will weaken your appliances and you will have to repair or replace them often. This should be a valid reason to look for water softeners in the home.
Softened water contains fewer dissolved minerals, making it easier for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers to perform at their optimal efficiency. Softening the water also helps to significantly reduce scale buildup inside pipes – which is one of the primary causes of plumbing-related problems – thereby contributing to an increased lifespan of your plumbing system and reducing the costs associated with plumbing maintenance.
3. Environmental Benefits
When you use soft water, you won’t have to use a lot of energy in the home. This will, in turn, reduce the carbon footprint. You definitely want to leave a better planet for future generations. It is the small changes that will eventually have a big impact on the environment.
Since water is much softer and cleaner when softened, less soap and other cleaning agents are necessary to break down tough grime and dirt. This helps cut down on the amount of toxic wastewater being produced as part of the cleaning process.
By reducing such pollutants, a water softener can help protect both surface-water sources (rivers, streams, oceans) and ground water resources. It also significantly reduces limescale build up in piping systems which cuts down on energy consumption by allowing natural flow rates to remain stable over time.
4. Reduces Use of Soap
Hard water makes it hard for the lathering of soap. This can be frustrating if you’re doing laundry as you will have to use a lot of detergents. When you switch to soft water, you can expect to use 75% less shampoo. This will reduce the costs of shampoo and soap. It makes sense if you’re looking to save not only on energy bills but also on soap and shampoo.
A water softener works by removing the hard-water minerals within your water supply which are known to cause scale buildup. Additionally, softened water requires significantly less soap than hard water; the result being cleaner dishes, fabrics, and surfaces that don’t require heavy scrubbing or the use of harsh chemicals.
5. Soft and White Fabric
It will be messy trying to do laundry with hard water. Mineral from hard water can get trapped in the fabric. This will over time ruin your clothes. You might yourself buying clothes more often than you should. White clothes will become dull and you won’t have the joy of putting them on again. Soft water ensures that the fabric quality is maintained.
Softening water reduces the amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are notorious for degrading the lifespan of clothes by leaving residues on them. With a water softener installed in your home, fabrics will remain whiter for longer, as minerals won’t leave those ugly discolorations on clothing items anymore.
6. Watering Plants
It will be a lot easier watering plants. If you have plants, you know how frustrating it can be when trying to water plants when there is chlorine. When you use soft water, the plants can be watered straight from the tap and you don’t have to worry about having chlorine in the water.
Hard water, or water with mineral ions like calcium and magnesium present, results in brown spotting on plants that is not only unsightly but can also be detrimental to the health of plants over time. A standard water softening system provides pre-filtered, softened water at every outlet throughout your home, allowing homeowners to finally give their plants a virtually limitless supply of clean hydration without the worry of mineral accumulation or toxicity.
Prolonging The Sewer System
The sewer system is one of the most important components in the home that is often neglected. It can be made worse if it is hard water that is being used in the home. Limescale will reduce the diameter of the pipes in the sewer systems. This will, in turn, increase the pressure in the pipes thus leading to damage.
Softened water reduces the amount of lime and calcium scale that builds up around faucets and other plumbing fixtures, which can interfere with vital functions of your sewage disposal system. By preventing scales and clogs, a water softener helps maintain the overall integrity of your property’s plumbing system.
There are several other benefits that we might not have covered. You should be doing research on the alternatives available when it comes to switching to soft water. You don’t have to spend a fortune in order to get a working solution.
There are companies that have been helping homeowners with this particular problem. Switching to soft water will reduce the energy bills in the home and you will not have to worry about repairing appliances often. Make the switch today for a more sustainable home.