Chances are if you live in an area with prevalent hard water, you have heard about all of the disadvantages of living in an area with hard water. You’ve probably even be cold called by a water softener salesman. But the question is: Do you really need a water softener? Read on to find out.

Do I have hard water? How to tell if you need a water softener!

You either have hard water or soft water in your home, most likely hard water if you are reading this.

The easiest way to identify whether you have hard water is by inspecting the damage it does to your dishes, glasses and cutlery. The particles that are predominantly found in hard water are abrasive and because of this cause stains, fogginess in glasses and spots form. Spots can even appear on windows when washed with hard water and these stains remain even after thorough washing and drying.

Hard water also produces scale. As well as these mineral deposits forming on kitchen appliances (such as a kettle) it can also form within boilers and plumbing systems. This scale causes appliances to be less efficient and can clog plumbing to the extent where they become less effective at passing the water supply through them. Defective plumbing is one of the most expensive consequences of hard water.

Appliances and the like are not the only things that are affected by hard water. Hard water can cause itchy dry skin and dull hair. This is due to the increase in calcium and magnesium salts contained within the water. This leads to the effectiveness of soaps and shampoos to be vastly reduced.

Clothes and fabrics are also affected. White clothes appear grayer and most colors become faded and nowhere near as vibrant as before hard water treated them. Clothes can also feel scratchy and are not affected by washing powders.

What does a water softener do?

A water softener eliminates the negative effects of hard water by removing the hard water ions for minerals that make the water hard. This process is known as ion exchange.

Water softeners are widely available and there are several different types. Seek professional advice before obtaining a system, or perform a water hardness check yourself using this water testing kit. Some softeners will automatically regenerate whereas others use a computer to track levels of water use.

Do you need a water softener?

Simply put, if you have hard water, you should probably have a water softener. The exact requirements of each household vary, as some locations with have more minerals than others.

If any of the aforementioned signs of hard water are prevalent within your household then you require a water softener to prevent them.  Although at the start these issues may not seem drastic, over time they will gradually worsen and have adverse effects on your home, the contents of your home and also your purse strings.

Although hard water will not harm your health, it will hurt your possessions and decrease the life span of your plumbing. The only way to combat these issues is with a water softener system. The harder your water is the bigger the benefit of owing one.