Benefits of Using a Water Softener
It’s low-cost to run a water softener. It uses less than $3 in electricity per year.2
A water softener only requires 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 lower water pressure.
Showerheads in homes with hard water can lose 75 percent of their flow rate in less than 18 months. Soft water maintains the shine and full flow for faucets and showerheads, nearly as well as the day they were put in.
Soft water is low in minerals. It doesn’t cause deposits in pipes or constrict water flow in fixtures.
Longer-Lasting Appliances
Over time, hard water can cause minerals to accumulate in your washing machine and dishwasher.
The mineral deposits in hard water turn into limescale when heated. This can spread over the heating elements in your appliances, decreasing life span and efficiency.
As a result, your appliances may need frequent repairs or need to be swapped out sooner.
Efficient Water Heaters
Soft water protects 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 period. In comparison, using hard water for a gas water heater can reduce 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 an inferior heat conductor. It can shorten 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 accumulate on your skin and in your hair, making it dry out. It can also cause painful razor burn.
Soft water is better at rinsing soap residue, so you’ll have silkier skin and glossier hair. Plus, your clothes will look brighter and your dishes will look more flawless.
Less Soap and Cleaning Time
When you have hard water, you have to use more soap for a satisfactory lather. The minerals in hard water react with soap. This creates a scum on showers.
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.