If you are getting hard water in your taps, you may need a water softening system. Look out for telltale signs that indicate the presence of hard water. In this article, we look at 5 signs you need a home water softener system.
A water softening system can help you to avoid several problems associated with hard water. You may need a water softener if your hair and skin are dry and itchy, your sinks, faucets, and bathtubs are covered with stains, your plumbing is getting clogged, your appliances need frequent repairs and your clothes are gray, faded and rough.
A water softening system will help to enhance the life of your clothes, appliances, and plumbing. It does require an initial investment, but it will pay for itself over the years. It can help you to save thousands of dollars that you would have had to spend on repairing or replacing items.
Let’s take a closer look at the 5 signs you need a home water softener system:
1. Your hair and skin are dry and itchy
Hard water dries your skin instead of nourishing it, making it dry and leathery. Extra magnesium and calcium in your tap water make your hair and skin dry. Shampoo, soap, and moisturizers can only prevent this to a certain extent.
Minerals that are present in hard water are deposited on your skin, and since soap does not dissolve properly in hard water, it is unable to wash them away. Hard water can block pores, causing blackheads and inflammation.
2. Stains are visible on bathtubs, sinks, and faucets
Mineral residue on faucets, bathtubs, and sinks indicates that you are getting hard water. When tap water evaporates, it leaves behind magnesium and calcium stains in your bathroom and kitchen.
You can use a little vinegar or a mixture of detergent powder and bleach to get rid of such stains. A potassium chloride water softener also provides an effective way of removing the stains.
3. Your plumbing becomes clogged and needs repairs
The buildup of limescale caused by hard water can clog your water pipes. PVC and copper pipes are less affected by hard water than steel pipes. As the flow of water in your pipes becomes increasingly restricted, the buildup of limescale occurs at a faster rate.
Over a period of time, hard water will reduce the flow of water in your plumbing, and this can require costly repairs. It makes sense to deal with hard water problems before they force you to spend thousands of dollars on repairs and replacement.
4. Your appliances glasses, dishes, and cutlery are affected
The buildup of limescale around the valves of your dishwasher and washing machine can prevent them from closing properly, resulting in water leakage. This will eventually reduce the lifespan or these expensive appliances. Frequent repairs and replacement can cost you a small fortune, so it makes sense to use a water softener.
Mineral deposits can stain your dishes, glasses, and cutlery, and washing may not remove them even after drying. Repeated washing with hard water can even affect your home’s windows.
5. Your clothes and linen are faded, gray and rough
Washing your bed linen and clothes with hard water can make them dull, gray and rough. The minerals in the water can also give them a scratchy feel after a wash. You can reduce this effect to some extent by using a liquid water softening detergent.
However, the effectiveness of washing powders meant to deal with hard water may be limited. Replacing your clothes and linen more frequently can cost a lot of money, so it makes sense to use a water softening system to improve the quality of the water.
If you see signs of hard water in your home, you can carry out a simple test to check it. Follow these steps to test tap water in your home for hardness:
- Fill a 360 ml bottle with tap water, add 10 drops of liquid soap, close the cap and then shake it vigorously to mix the soap with the water.
- Open the cap and check for soap suds. If there are lots of soap suds, it’s likely that you are getting soft water in your tap.
- You can also contact your water company to find out about hardness in your water supply.
- Another option is to request a water softener company to test your water for hardness. Water softener companies often do these tests for free.
- You can send them a water sample and get a report on the mineral content in your water supply.
- They may also provide test strips or a test kit to determine the level of hardness.
- You can also order a test kit or test strips online and use them to test your tap water yourself.
Once you know about how hard your tap water is, you can decide on how you would like to deal with the problem. A range of water softener systems is currently available, and you can pick an affordable model that’s suitable for your needs.
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