Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to run 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 work longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral deposits to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can lead to clogs and decreased water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in shorter than 18 months. Soft water preserves the luster 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 leave 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 get hot. This can cover the heating elements in your appliances, reducing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need repeated service or need to be replaced ahead of time.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters using soft water hold on to 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 own an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can accumulate in the tank from hard water. The scale is a poor heat conductor. It can decrease 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, triggering it to look dull. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have softer skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will look more flawless.
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 creates a scum on showers.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.