Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s inexpensive to use a water softener. It consumes less than $3 in electricity per year.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 take less time, help your appliances last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow smoothly in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral deposits to accumulate 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 keeps the luster 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 create deposits in pipes or restrict 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 turn into limescale when they get hot. This can coat the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need frequent service or need to be swapped out earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water preserves 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 reduce efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you have an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is an inferior 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 accumulate on your skin and in your hair, triggering it to dry out. It can also contribute to painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at cleaning soap residue, so you’ll have softer skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look less faded 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 creates a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to waste as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.