Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to use a water softener. It needs less than $3 in electricity year-round.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 last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral coatings to gather in your pipes and fixtures. This can lead to clogs and reduced 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 shine and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.
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 become concentrated 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, lowering life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need frequent fixes or need to be replaced sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters running on soft water hold on to the factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can reduce efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you own 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 longer to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals collect on your skin and in your hair, causing it to become dehydrated. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will look cleaner.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use additional 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 spend as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less soap.