Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to use a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity annually.2
A water softener only needs about 2.5 pounds of salt. That’s 80 percent less salt than dial-style softeners.
Soft water can make cleaning take less time, help your appliances last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow easily in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to gather in your pipes and fixtures. This can create clogs and lower water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in shorter than 18 months. Soft water maintains the luster and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is lacks 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 accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water make limescale when they become warm. This can spread over the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need repeated service 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 running on soft water keep 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 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 a poor heat conductor. It can reduce the life of your heating element, because it has to work harder to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals accumulate on your skin and in your hair, making it become dehydrated. It can also lead to painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look less faded and your dishes will look cleaner.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a satisfactory lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This creates a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to spend as much time cleaning to remove soap scum. You’ll also use less soap.