No hour goes by where we don’t make use of water. Sometimes we are drinking it, and other times, we are using it for daily life chores. The bottom line is, the usage of water is inevitable. We are so connected with water, but do you know that about 90% of households still have hard water? Water that’s concentrated with calcium and magnesium?
To counter this problem, many households install a water softener. This installation costs between $700 to 2,000. So, do you think a water softener is worth the investment in the long run? You are about to find out!
But first, let’s discover…
What’s A Water Softener?
Usually, the water that comes into our home is hard. Meaning, it contains minerals and substances that can be harmful to humans. A water softener softens the water by treating the hard minerals in it like magnesium and calcium.
Some water softener systems eliminate said hard minerals from the water. Whereas others treat them so that their hardening effect is decreased – making them less harmful.
Water softener systems are available at different price ranges depending on their size, quality, and manufacturer. Common types of softeners are
- standard ion exchange
- dual tank ion exchange
- salt-free water softeners
- magnetic descalers
But Why Should I Buy A Water Softener?
Hard water is a nightmare for almost everything you can think of related to water.
Firstly, hard water wrecks a modern home by building up scale in your pipes, clogging them, and decreasing water pressure. And then, dramatically reduces the lifespan of home appliances.
As hard water is rich in magnesium and calcium cations, limescale also solidifies inside water heaters. This decreases the life of heaters as the solid deposits destroy the heating components.
Hard water also reacts with the surface of everything it touches. This results in a layer of filmy scum over time. You can mostly see this layer on dishes, cups, plates, and other kitchenware that’s in frequent contact with hard water.
That’s not it; laundry done with hard water demands extra detergent.
We can go on and on, but you got the point. Not investing in a water softener can result in dealing with an array of problems associated with hard water.
Reasons Why A Water Softener Is A Good Long-term Investment
Okay, so, a water softener eliminates all the disadvantages that come along with hard water. But is it reason enough to make such a big investment?
If you aren’t convinced already, the following points will help you make the right decision.
Efficient pipes & appliances
Hard water leaves traces of calcium and magnesium ions on everything it comes in contact with. Basically, it creates limescale deposits inside the pipes of your house, which then damages the whole water system, including heaters, drainage, etc.
With a water softener in your home, you get to avoid the building up of limescale in your pipes and as a result, they last longer. Also, soft water will eventually lower the cost you may spend on plumbing otherwise.
That’s not it! Soft water is also gentle on appliances such as washing machines and heaters. As a result, they last longer, and you won’t have to call for repairs frequently or buy new ones.
Healthier skin & hair
Unlike soft water, hard water is harmful to your skin and hair. Hard water finds a number of ways to cause havoc, making you look unhealthy.
With a water softener system in your home, you’ll no longer have to deal with unhealthy skin or hard hair. As soft water is free of calcium and magnesium, your hair will be smooth, and your skin will be light and moisturized.
As the water was the main problem all along, you’ll no longer have to invest in expensive products to get back your healthy skin and hair.
Cleaner laundry & kitchenware
Are you tired of dirty laundry and kitchenware even when you are using high-end detergents? Well, the problem is, once again, hard water!
The majority of people spend a good chunk of money buying pricey detergents for doing their laundry and cleaning the kitchenware. But the result stays the same because they aren’t fixing the real problem. Hard water is harsh on your laundry and kitchenware; it can leave cation traces that can take hours to clean.
The simple solution is using soft water. With soft water, no cations will react with your clothes or items in the kitchen, as a result, you’ll see no traces of smudges, but only clean dishes, and clothes!
Saves money in the long run
A water softener will save you loads of money in the long run. For instance, you no longer have to spend on damaged pipes, broken appliances, worn-out dishes, untidy clothes, and more.
You’ll save big on detergents as they tend to work more effectively with soft water. Similarly, as your house will have sufficient access to soft water, you won’t buy bottled water from outside, saving yourself even more cash and the planet from a heavy plastic footprint.
Spending as many as two thousand bucks on water softeners isn’t an easy decision to make. We recommend our readers not just to take our words but do the research yourself and talk to friends and family who are already using a water softener. Once you’re ready to take the decision in favor of installing one, make sure you select the best unit for your needs.
We know that water softeners are a little expensive, and their installation is also costly. But in our opinion, a water softener comes with a handful of pros that clearly outweighs the cons – making it worth the investment.
