Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to operate a water softener. It consumes 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 last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow easily in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to build up in your pipes and fixtures. This can cause clogs and reduced 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 brilliance and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were added.
Soft water is low in minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or limit water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to build up in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water form limescale when they get hot. This can spread over the heating elements in your appliances, lowering life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need repeated fixes or need to be swapped out sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water maintains the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on 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 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 reduce 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 accumulate on your skin and in your hair, causing it to become dehydrated. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have smoother 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 extra soap for a satisfactory lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This makes a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to spend as much time cleaning to eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.