What distinguishes hard water from soft water?
Water sourced from groundwater is often much harder due to naturally occurring magnesium and calcium. Living using hard water can be an expensive issue. Since it is so harsh on your hair, skin, and plumbing, hard water gets its name from the greater calcium carbonate and magnesium levels in the water. The more calcium and magnesium your water has, the harder it is and the more film and buildup you’ll see.
Instead of having higher quantities of calcium and magnesium, soft water typically has higher sodium, or salt, concentrations. By eliminating the minerals that cause hard water through a procedure known as ion exchange, a water softener treats the problem. Resin in the system traps mineral ions that harm your property and make it hard by exchanging them for sodium and potassium ions. The water softener systems come in salt-based and salt-free units that filter out those hard water minerals, making your water ‘soft’ to the touch.
What are the negative impacts of hard water?
Although hard water is bad for your home, it is not bad for your health. The dissolved minerals in the groundwater that passes through your home’s pipes react with the heat to form plaque which harms your pipes, appliances, and fixtures. These are the few drawbacks of using hard water:
- Hard water has the effect of reducing the effectiveness of soaps and detergents. Minerals react with soap to create a coagulated soap curd instead of entirely dissolving it. Less soap is dissolved, so more is needed. Insoluble curd is also sticky and sticks to the skin, making it difficult to clean. Clean hair appears lifeless and lacklustre.
- Your automatic washing machine may allow the soap curd to get on your clothing as they are being washed. In addition to making the cloth stiffer and rougher, this can retain dirt stuck in the fibres.
- Along with interfering with the washing process, insoluble soap deposits cause stains on everything you wash, including the family car and dishes, and a soap film will accumulate in your bath and shower.
- The impact of hard water on your plumbing system is another cause to be concerned about. In pipes, calcium and magnesium deposits can accumulate, decreasing the flow to faucets and appliances. These minerals cause scale accumulation in water heaters, which decreases the efficiency and lifespan of the heater.
How can you identify the presence of hard water?
To determine whether your home needs a water-softening system, use the checklist given below. You might have hard water if you’ve observed any of these symptoms whether washing dishes, doing laundry, or taking a shower.
- Watermarks on recently cleaned faucets.
- Excessive buildup of lime and chalk on the home’s sink and shower walls.
- Unusual flavour or odour of water
- Dry or itchy skin and hair after bath.
- Low water pressure
- Malfunctioning of appliances like washing machines, dishwasher machines, boilers etc.
- Watermarks or residue on cleaned dishes
What are the advantages of setting up a water softener?
If you are having any of the above problems, a water softener might be a good choice for you. People who live in locations with hard water may find it beneficial due to its many perks.
- Cleaner laundry
When washed in softened water with the appropriate amount of detergent, all fabrics become cleaner. Fabric weaves become ingrained with hard water pollutants, which causes fabrics to become stiff and coarse. Colors fade and whites frequently turn grey. Hard water also allows soap curd to build up, which needs to be washed off in order for clothes to be cleaned. These issues are eliminated with soft water. - Conserve water
Softened water allows you to wash clothes more thoroughly with fewer rinsing because it has less hardness and soap curd. As a result, it is frequently possible for laundry to totally do away with one rinse cycle while maintaining washing efficiency. - Spare no energy
You can use less energy to heat the soft water. Your water heater must be heated in order to remove the hard water scale before you can heat the water. That is an increase you can get rid of with soft water because you don’t need it. They reduce your electricity expense and get rid of scale in your plumbing because they require very little maintenance and last for 15 to 20 years. - Spend less on supplies
Less laundry bleach and chemical softeners are needed with softened water. Instead of using detergents with their in-built chemical cleansers, you can use soap. Many of these are made with phosphates or other chemicals to buffer the hardness of the water. The entire cost of supplies can be decreased by up to 50% with your water quality. - Reduce the price of repairs and upkeep
Every piece of equipment that uses water is susceptible to hard water damage. Hard water damages valves and pumps, clogs pipes and nozzles and reduces machine productivity. Additionally, machine life might be significantly reduced, necessitating more frequent replacement of pricey capital equipment. - Benefits your skin and hair
Improved moisture absorption and retention since soft water contain fewer minerals. While taking a shower or a bath in hard water can harm your skin. Hard water’s minerals strip the skin’s natural oils, which can cause drying and, in certain cases, irritated, itchy skin. Unlike hard water, soft water helps in balancing the pH of your hair. - Less cleaning time
Cleaning a house with hard water might be a time-consuming ordeal. You keep washing your dishes and clothes. You might spend hours each week cleaning soapy residue off the walls of your washrooms and kitchen. By using a water softener, you may avoid the negative consequences of hard water because soft water completely dissolves and penetrates soap. Making cleaning easy and less time-consuming work.
Your water’s hardness level will vary depending on where you reside. Even if the drinking water in your home is regarded as being “soft,” a water softener can still enhance the quality and flavour of your water. We advise looking into purchasing a water softener system if your water is hard. A water softener machine can rapidly fix problems caused by hard water, such as limescale accumulation, which clogs pipes, jams shower heads and faucets, and reduces appliance efficiency. The harmful effects of hard water can be mitigated by installing a water softener in your home.