Would You Benefit from a Water Softener System in Your Home?

Written by Hanna Plumbing & Heating / February 10, 2023

Owning a home comes with a lot of decisions—some of which might be new to you. For instance, you’ve likely heard people discussing the “hardness” or “softness” of water before, but what does that mean? And how does each type of water impact you and your family as consumers?

Soft Water vs. Hard Water

First, it’s important to understand what it means when water is soft or hard—and the answer is very simple. Natural water sources contain a variety of minerals like calcium and magnesium. If a water supply contains a large amount of these minerals, it is considered hard. Soft water is water that contains low levels of minerals, often removed through a treatment process or water-softening system.

Benefits of Soft Water

Whether or not you want to soften your water is completely up to you, but there are benefits to doing so.

For instance, the minerals in hard water can build up inside plumbing fixtures, hot water heaters, and appliances. This build-up can make your pipes narrower, which leads to slower water flow.

When water is softened, this build-up is minimized. This means fixtures and appliances will function better and longer. This helps save money on replacements or repairs of dishwashers, washing machines, and hot water heaters in your home.

Soft water also plays better with soaps, meaning your shampoo will lather better and soaps will dissolve, preventing the filmy feeling that hard water often leaves behind on your skin and scalp. Soft water is also known to help relieve dryness and itchiness.

How a Water Softening System Works

Different water-softening systems may have different features or methods. However, when simplified, water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium from raw water before it gets to your faucets. Salt is used to create a brine that removes minerals, and then the salt is flushed out to reduce sodium levels. Finally, the softened water runs to your faucets.

Do I Need A Water Softener?

You may notice some visual indications of hard water right off the bat. This includes any water-related fixture or appliance in your home exhibiting water flow issues. Other indicators include rusty colored rings in your toilet bowl, cloudy drinking water, and water residue on dishware and other surfaces. If your home is on well water, you likely have very hard water.

If you feel that you may have hard water issues, you can determine the precise hardness level of your water supply with an at-home test kit.

For reference, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) explains the general guidelines for water classifications to be:

Soft water: 0 to 60 mg/L as calcium carbonate
Hard water: 61 to 120 mg/L as calcium carbonate
Hard water: 121 to 180 mg/L as calcium carbonate
Very hard water: more than 180 mg/L as calcium carbonate

Say Goodbye to Hard Water with a Water-Softening System from Hanna Plumbing and Heating!

If you’re ready to install a water softener in your home, reach out to the professionals at Hanna Plumbing and Heating. Our experts are happy to visit your home, answer any questions you may have, and help you on your way to softer water!