Why You Should Soften Your Hard Water

You don't have to soften hard water before using it, but softening the water will save you in more ways than one. Below are some of the specific reasons for softening domestic water.

To Improve Washing Efficiency

Washing with hard water is difficult. You have to use more energy than you would have used with soft water. This is because the minerals that make the water hard interfere with lathering, and lathering is necessary for clean washing. In fact, the minerals in the water plus the soap chemicals might combine to live a dull or dirty looking film on your clothes, utensils, and other things you may wash with the water. In the long run, hard water might fade your clothes faster than soft-water washing.

To Reduce Cooking Time

The minerals in hard water also increase the boiling point of water. This leads to energy and time waste every time you cook or boil the water. In fact, certain foods (such as beans and peas) are difficult to cook in hard water. Many people also consider the taste of hard water unpleasant in hot beverages, such as tea.

To Maintain Boiler Efficiency

Softening your water can also be beneficial to your boiler's efficiency. For one, the minerals in the hard water will accumulate in your boiler. With time, this creates a thick layer of minerals at the bottom of the tank, and this acts as an insulator between the heat source and the water in the boiler. This means the heat must pass through the scale to heat the water, and your boiler ends up using more heat to raise your water's temperature than it would use without the scale buildup. In the end, your water might also not be as hot as it ought to be.

To Protect the Plumbing System

Lastly, hard water can also cause various damages to your plumbing system. For one, hard water leads to mineral buildup within the pipes, which reduces the internal diameter of the pipes and creates high water pressure. High water pressure increases the rate of wear and tear of the pipes. The scale buildup in boilers also makes the boilers to work harder than usual, which also increases the wear and tear of the boilers. Even water fixtures, such as faucets and showerheads, can suffer clogging if they are constantly exposed to hard water.

As you can see, soft water can save you considerable resources. Consult a plumber for the installation of a water softening system if you have been using hard water all along. Companies like Aqua Masters Water Conditioning Inc can help.