Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s economical to operate a water softener. It needs 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 easier, help your appliances last longer and help you avoid plumbing clogs.
Clog-Free Plumbing and Fixtures
Soft water helps water flow easily in plumbing. Hard water causes mineral sediment to gather in your pipes and fixtures. This can lead to clogs and lower water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in fewer than 18 months. Soft water maintains the brilliance 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 cause deposits in pipes or limit 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, reducing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need regular repairs or need to be replaced 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 lifetime. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can cut efficiency by up to 48 percent.
If you own an electric water heater, up to 30 pounds of rock-like scale can accumulate in the tank from hard water. The scale is a bad heat conductor. It can reduce the life of your heating element, because it has to work longer to heat water.
Soft Skin, Brighter Laundry and Cleaner Dishes
Hard water minerals collect on your skin and in your hair, causing it to become dehydrated. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is more efficient at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look more colorful and your dishes will look cleaner.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a good lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This creates a scum on sinks.
With soft water, you won’t need to spend as much time cleaning to get rid of soap scum. You’ll also use less cleaning supplies.