Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s low-cost to operate a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity annually.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 easier, 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 sediment to accumulate in your pipes and fixtures. This can create clogs and reduced water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in shorter than 18 months. Soft water preserves the shine and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were installed.
Soft water is low in minerals. It doesn’t leave deposits in pipes or constrict 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 make limescale when they become warm. This can cover the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need repeated fixes or need to be exchanged earlier.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects the efficiency of water heaters.
Gas storage and tankless water heaters operating on soft water keep 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 use an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can build up in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can decrease 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, triggering it to become dehydrated. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at washing away soap residue, so you’ll have smoother skin and shinier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will have fewer spots.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a decent lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This forms a scum on tubs.
With soft water, you won’t need to use as much time cleaning to eliminate soap scum. You’ll also use less detergent.