Everyone needs clean water for everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene. Many Denver homeowners ask themselves which is best—a water filter or a water softener? Discover the key differences between inline water filters and whole-house water softeners, the benefits they provide and how to decide which one is best for your needs.
What Is an Inline Water Filter?
An inline water filter is a point-of-entry filtration system that treats water as it enters your home. It’s installed directly on your main water line, removing sediment, chlorine, bacteria and other pollutants from the municipal water supply before it gets to your plumbing fixtures and appliances.
Benefits of Water Filters
If your water comes from a municipal company, you may ask yourself why you might need an inline water filter. After all, the water is already cleaned at a water treatment plant. However, many local water supplies barely meet EPA standards, and water may pick up harmful particles between the treatment plant and your faucets. Here’s how setting up a water filter can benefit you:
- Healthier water: Water filters take away unsafe microorganisms, carcinogenic materials and other potentially harmful particles for safer, better-tasting drinking water.
- Reduced sediment: Water filters decrease sediment accumulation in your pipes, appliances and fixtures, defending them from wear and tear.
- No plastic waste: Inline water filters reduce the need for bottled water, helping create a greener environment.
- Cost-effectiveness: Access to clean, safe tap water saves you from spending extra your hard-earned cash on bottled water and decreasesthe stress on your plumbing system.
How to Tell if You Need a Whole-House Water Filter
About one-third of American households rely on home treatment systems for safe and healthy drinking water. Here are some signals that you might need to get a whole-house water filter:
- Discoloration, strange taste or unpleasant smell: If your tap water is anything but absolutely clear, clean-tasting and odor-free, it may be contaminated. Think about putting in a filter for your health and well-being.
- Frequent plumbing problems: A whole-house water filter helps alleviate blocked pipes, low water pressure and other troubles.
- Skin irritation: If you experience redness, rashes or other skin issues connected to poor water quality, a whole-house water filter may be helpful.
- Past history: Does your local water supply have a background of possible contamination? Getting a whole-house water filter offers peace of mind against long-term problems.
What Is a Water Softener?
A water softener takes away calcium and magnesium from water. A process called ion exchange acts sort of like a chemical magnet, replacing these “hard” minerals with sodium ions to “soften” the water.
Benefits of Water Softeners
If you have hard water, here is what you’ll notice once you set up a water softener:
- Longer plumbing life span: Soft water reduces scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, dishwashers and washing machines, lengthening their life span and bettering their appearance.
- Clog-free plumbing: Soft water doesn’t create a hard mineral coating to adhere to your plumbing system, which helps keep your pipes and faucets flowing easily.
- Better soap lathering: Soft water is a good way to make sure cleaning products lather more effectively, resulting in cleaner dishes, brighter laundry, and softer skin and hair, even with less soap and detergent.
- Energy savings: A water softener helps your plumbing appliances run effectively for lower energy bills.
How to Tell if You Need a Water Softener
Most water resources in North America are considered moderately hard, hard or very hard. You can learn about the quality of your local water by reading your local municipality's water quality report. In the meantime, here are some indicators that you could benefit from a water softener:
- Scale buildup: A white, chalky substance on your fixtures and appliances is a sign of hard water, as are the white spots on your dishes, glass shower door and coffee maker. A water softener can help you get rid of this unsightly issue.
- Low water pressure: Showerheads and faucet aerators commonly become significantly clogged by mineral deposits within 18 months of use. Watch for this because it is a result of hard water.
- Dry skin and hair: Hard water stops soap from rinsing thoroughly, resulting in irritated skin and brittle hair.
- Repeated appliance repairs: If your dishwasher or water heater malfunctions often due to scale buildup, a water softener may be a worthwhile purchase.
Should You Buy Both a Water Filter and a Water Softener?
Inline water filters and water softeners both offer valuable benefits, but they perform different operations. An inline water filter takes away contaminants and improves overall water quality, while a water softener specifically targets hard minerals. In some instances, using a water filter and a water softener is necessary. Consider your specific needs and water quality to determine the best solution for your household.
Schedule Water Filter and Water Softener Installation in Denver
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is a trustworthy provider of water treatment solutions in Denver, including water filters and water softeners from Excalibur. Our team can help you determine if one or both solutions are necessary to help you achieve the best water quality in your Denver home.