Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to operate a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity per year.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 more effortless, 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 cause clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in less than 18 months. Soft water keeps the brilliance and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were added.
Soft water is low in minerals. It doesn’t leave deposits in pipes or limit 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 turn into limescale when heated. This can spread over the heating elements in your appliances, reducing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need repeated repairs or need to be swapped out ahead of time.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters using 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 have an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is an inferior heat conductor. It can reduce the life of your heating element, because it has to work longer to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals build up on your skin and in your hair, causing it to dry out. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have smoother skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will look more flawless.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a good lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to use as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.