Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to run a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity annually.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 easily in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can create clogs and reduced water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in shorter than 18 months. Soft water keeps the shine 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 create deposits in pipes or constrict 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 make limescale when heated. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, reducing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need frequent fixes or need to be replaced sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters running on soft water maintain the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year period. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can reduce efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you use 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 decrease 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 lead to painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have softer 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 decent lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to remove soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.