Having clean, safe water is essential for family health. Hard water, which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium minerals, can negatively impact health and home appliances. Water softeners are an important tool for improving water quality by removing these excess minerals. This article explores the benefits of water softeners for safeguarding your family's health.
The Risks of Hard Water
Hard water is created when water moves through soil and rock and absorbs calcium and magnesium. The more minerals in the water, the harder it is. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg), with over 7 gpg considered hard.
Hard water poses several health and home risks:
Scale buildup: The excess minerals in hard water bond together and stick to the insides of pipes, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. This scale buildup clogs pipes, decreasing water pressure and flow. Scale on water heaters and appliances reduces efficiency and lifespan.
Damage to hair and skin: Hard water minerals disrupt the cleansing process, leaving behind soap scum and residue on skin and hair. This can cause dryness, irritation, and dandruff.
Poor soap and detergent performance: Hard water ions interfere with soap and detergent's ability to latch onto and remove dirt and oils. More soap and detergent is required to clean effectively.
Spotty dishes: The minerals in hard water react with dish soap and leave behind white scale or spots on dishes, glassware, and silverware.
Limescale: Over time, the buildup of calcium and magnesium deposits known as limescale can clog pipes and degrade water quality. Limescale buildup in plumbing and appliances reduces lifespan.
Health complications: For some people, the minerals in hard water can contribute to kidney stone formation and exacerbate eczema. Hard water consumption may increase cardiovascular disease risk.
Water softeners help combat all these harmful effects of hard water.
How Water Softening Works
Water softeners use a process called ion exchange to remove the calcium and magnesium ions that cause hardness. The water passes through a tank containing small resin beads which are charged with sodium ions. An exchange occurs where the resin beads attract and latch onto the calcium and magnesium ions. The minerals stick to the beads as the water passes through, removing hardness, while the sodium ions are released into the water.
The result is softened water flowing from your taps without the problematic minerals. Once the resin beads become full of calcium and magnesium, a regeneration process cleans and recharges them with sodium so they can continue softening water.
Water softeners also often contain carbon filters which help remove other contaminants and further improve water taste, odor, and clarity.
Benefits of Water Softening
Installing a water softener provides a range of important benefits for your home and family's health:
Smoother Skin and Hair
The softened water creates a smooth lather and rinses cleanly without residue. Bathing in softened water leaves skin and hair feeling sleek and soft without dryness or irritation. The smooth feeling lasts, without soaps and shampoos building up.
Improved Cleaning Power
With softened water, soaps and detergents are able to work more effectively to lift dirt, oils, and grime from surfaces. Dishes, clothing, and surfaces stay cleaner with less effort.
Protection of Plumbing and Appliances
Soft water prevents scale buildup inside pipes, fixtures, water heaters, and appliances. This saves on costly repairs and replacements and extends the lifespan of plumbing and appliances.
Better Tasting Coffee and Tea
Hard water can give drinks an unpleasant mineral taste. Softened water allows the true flavors of coffee, tea, juices, and recipes to shine.
Less Spotting on Dishes and Glasses
The minerals in hard water react with dish soap and dry into white spots on dishes, glassware, flatware and cookware. Soft water rinses clean without leaving spots behind.
Longer Lasting Faucets and Fixtures
The abrasive minerals in hard water speed up wear and tear on faucets and fixtures. Soft water prevents costly repairs or replacements.
Energy Savings
Scale buildup in water heaters and appliances forces them to work harder and run longer. Soft water optimizes efficiency.
Fewer Toxic Cleaning Chemicals
Soft water allows you to use fewer harsh cleaning chemicals to scrub away mineral deposits. This creates a healthier home environment.
Peace of Mind
Knowing your family is enjoying purified water can provide peace of mind. Softened water gives children healthier baths and provides better tasting drinking water.
Choosing the Best Water Softener
With all these benefits, installing a water softener is a smart investment for your home. Choosing the right water softener depends on:
Water hardness level - The hardness of your tap water determines the softener capacity needed. A professional water test can measure your water's gpg.
Household size - The number of people and bathrooms determines the softener tank size and flow rate to handle daily water usage.
Special features - Look for a reliable brand that combines automation, efficiency, low salt use, with advanced features like self-cleaning or Wi-Fi monitoring.
Installation - A professional handles permitting, connections to plumbing, drainage, electrical, and programming the system.
Maintenance - Quality water softeners are low maintenance. Occasional tasks include adding salt pellets and sanitization/cleaning.
Warranty - Reputable brands offer warranties of 5 years or more on electronics and 10+ years on tanks.
Aqua-Wise Water Treatment Solutions recommends the AquaLux Series Water Softener which is certified under NSF/ANSI Standard 44 for effective water softening and efficiency. Their systems combine durable tanks, efficient valves, user-friendly electronics, and high-performance resin media that optimizes water quality.
Ensure Your Family's Health with Soft Water
Hard water's risks to appliances, infrastructure, and your family's health make water softening a smart investment. With quality systems like AquaLux softeners, you can protect your home, improve health and hygiene, and enjoy better tasting drinking water with peace of mind. Contact the experts at Aqua-Wise Water Treatment Solutions to learn more about the right whole home or point-of-use softener to meet your family's needs.
This article was provided by Aqua-Wise Water Treatment Solutions, a leading provider of water softeners, filters, and other water treatment systems. Based in Tampa, Florida, Aqua-Wise has over 25 years of experience helping homeowners enjoy cleaner, safer water throughout their homes. Their certified technicians professionally install and maintain a variety of water softeners and filters to meet each family's needs. Aqua-Wise is dedicated to educating consumers about the benefits of water treatment and providing customized solutions for optimizing water quality. Learn more atwww.Aqua-wise.com.
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