Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to run a water softener. It needs less than $3 in electricity year-round.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 freely in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral coatings to build up in your pipes and fixtures. This can cause clogs and lower 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 luster and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is low in 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 become concentrated in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form 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 repeated service or need to be exchanged sooner.
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 build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can decrease the life of your heating element, because it has to work more 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 superior at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have smoother skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will have fewer spots.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use extra 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 use as much time cleaning to remove soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.