Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to run a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity per year.2
A water softener only requires 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 run longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow easily in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral coatings to gather in your pipes and fixtures. This can create clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in fewer than 18 months. Soft water preserves the brilliance and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.
Soft water is lacks 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 accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form limescale when they become warm. This can cover the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular repairs or need to be exchanged sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on soft water maintain the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year life span. 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 shorten 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 accumulate on your skin and in your hair, making it look dull. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is superior at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and sleeker 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 extra soap for a satisfactory lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to spend as much time cleaning to eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.