Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive 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 take less time, 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 deposits 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 less than 18 months. Soft water keeps the brilliance 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 cause 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 make limescale when heated. This can cover the heating elements in your appliances, reducing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular fixes 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 cut 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 build up on your skin and in your hair, triggering it to look dull. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and sleeker 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 more soap for a good 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 eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.