Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to run a water softener. It needs less than $3 in electricity per year.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 easier, 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 cause clogs and reduced 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 shine and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is doesn’t have a lot of minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or restrict 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 turn into limescale when they get hot. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular fixes or need to be exchanged sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves 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 lower efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you have 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 harder to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals accumulate on your skin and in your hair, making it dry out. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will look cleaner.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use additional soap for a decent lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.