If you find that your sinks are riddled with stains and your skin is dry and itchy, you might have a problem with hard water. If so, you might need a water softener. Water softening systems will help to increase the lifespan of your appliances, plumbing and your clothes, as well as reducing your budget.
Here are six signs you need a water softener.
1. Kitchen
You notice scale on your appliances and glassware is cloudy. When we use water for drinking or cooking, we are ingesting not only the water, but any contaminants it contains as well. Water contains Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) which includes minerals, salts or metals dissolved in it. TDS’s can affect the taste and appearance of water as well as cause some serious health concerns if it contains nitrates, arsenic, lead or chlorine to name a few. Reverse osmosis systems can filter out the TDS’s in your drinking water, making it safe and healthy to drink and cook with. Getting rid of hard water stains on glassware can be a serious pain. It can also make them more prone to breaking easily. Of course, using a water softener to eliminate hard water stains is likely the most effective course of action.
2. Skin and Hair
Hard water can play havoc on your skin and hair, causing it to become dry, frizzy, easily damaged and can even change the color. Hard water can actually cause itchy dry skin and hair because there’s so much extra calcium and magnesium salts floating around in your water. Soap and shampoo can only prevent this so much. Minerals in water settle on your skin and soap that doesn’t dissolve well in hard water can’t remove them. This leaves a residue on skin that irritates it and makes it feel dry and rough. It also makes your skin leathery and dry. Installing a water softener can alleviate these issues
3. Laundry
Your clothes are gray and faded. Noticing that your clothes and bedsheets now look faded is a sign of hard water. They may feel scratchy and be hard to wash because there is so much extra mineral substance contained in your water. The best way to get rid of this gray mineral quality in your laundry and get cleaner, brighter clothes is to get a water softener. A water softener will remove the mineral deposits in your water therefore not allowing the formation of damaging soap scum.
4. Bathroom
You see stains on the sinks and bathtubs. Do you notice that gray ring around your bath? How about the discoloration in your toilet? Does your sink constantly have white spots on the faucet or counter These stains form when tap water evaporates, leaving behind calcium and magnesium deposits. Any stains left behind from mineral residue are a sign of hard water. Hard water will cause stains over time. A water softener will be most effective at permanently removing stains and keeping them gone for good.
5. Plumbing and Appliances
Your plumbing is in constant need of repair. When a home has hard water, mineral deposits called scale, build up within the pipes and appliances in your home. Pipes, hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and icemakers are in constant contact with water. Pipes and hoses become clogged, which significantly decreases water pressure and can even cause them to burst. Heating elements can fail if there is an excess scale buildup and can cause leaks or breakage if valves and gaskets are damaged. Overall, hard water has been proven to decrease efficiency in appliances and shorten their lifespan. A water softener can prevent scale buildup and lengthen the life of your appliances while keeping them running at full efficiency
6. Your water bill is skyrocketing
Your water usage will go up as your pipes have to work harder to let flow through. If you notice your bill has recently gone up, you might need to get a softener. Matilija Pure Water Systems will do a free in home water analysis to find out if your water falls on the soft or hard end of the water hardness scale. We can recommend what products and service are right for you and your family.