Why use a water softener, you might be wondering. If you live in a house or apartment with hard water, you probably felt some of the negatives effects of it, and you could benefit from using a water softener to soften your water.
While hard water is not bad for your health, it can have a negative impact on cleaning, bathing, cooking, and energy efficiency.
In this article, we will highlight the top benefits of using a water softener, so continue to read to find out more!
#1 – Prevent limescale building inside of pipes
Hard water has minerals that will form a limescale buildup when passing through the pipes. Using a water softener helps with this issue because soft water doesn’t have the mineral ions that create this buildup.
The limescale buildup has major impacts on your pipes, causing the water to not flow so well through them, and can also cause leaks, and will lead you to have to repair your plumbing, which is expensive.
This is worse with steel pipes, copper and PVC pipes have a better behavior with hard water.
#2 – Saves you money on the electric and water bill
As mentioned on the previous topic, hard water builds limescale on your pipes, narrowing the space on them for the water to flow, causing problems with water pressure and flow rates. This can lead to an increase in your water bill.
The narrowing of the pipe also causes the heat transfer to be less efficient, so your water heater has to work more than expected, which increases your electric bill.
#3 – Extend the lifespan of your appliances
Another great benefit of using a water softener is that soft water, unlike hard water, won’t scale buildup in your appliances, such as water heaters, coffee machines, dishwashers, laundry equipment, etc. preventing damage on them and extending their lifespan.
#4 – Softer clothes, with brighter colors
Soft water is better at dissolving detergents, and also has fewer minerals than hard water, so it won’t deposit in your clothes and make them feel rough and scratchy. Using soft water leaves your clothes soft to the touch and with a fresh look.
Another problem with hard water that a water softener solves, is that the mineral deposits on your clothes will cause the colors to fade away, causing the clothes to be less bright.
#5 – Cleaner dishes, glassware, and silverware
After drying, hard water leaves mineral residues of calcium and magnesium on dishes, glassware, cutlery, etc., causing them to have stains and a cloudy appearance.
If this happens to you, you probably need to start using a water softener, because it will remove the minerals from the water prevent this issue.
Another reason is that soft water dissolves better the detergents and soap, creating more lather and making your dishware cleaning more effective.
#6 – Softer skin
Hard water has minerals that prevent the soap from dissolve completely and don’t create enough lather in your bath.
The minerals in hard water also remove your skin’s natural oils, making it dry and itchy, and can block your pores which causes inflammation.
So if you use a water softener you will feel your skin slicker, softer, and less irritated.
#7 – Cleaner hair
Bathing with hard water is not only bad for your skin but is also bad for your hair. Because hard water prevents soap from dissolve properly, it can cause your hair to feel dry, sticky, and weak.
Another side effect of hard water in your pipes is that will lower your water pressure, which doesn’t help to rinse the shampoo from your hair.
What Next
If some of the benefits mentioned above could be useful for you, it’s a sign that if have hard water in your house and you need a water softener.
If that is the case, check our water softener buying guide to help you select the best for your situation.
3 thoughts on “Why Use a Water Softener: The Top 7 Benefits”
It’s great to know that a water softener system can help you save money on your electric and water build since it prevents limescale buildup in your water pipes and appliances. That also means your appliances will last longer. I’ll share this information with my mom because I believe she would like to have a water softener installed in our house.
It got my attention when you said that hard water can make your skin dry and itchy since the minerals in it remove your skin’s natural oils. With this in mind, I will be sure to have a water softener installed at home. Since we have moved to our new place last month, my daughter and I have been complaining about freezy hair and itchy skin, so your tips will surely make sense.
It is interesting to know that installing a water softener prevents hard water from damaging your home appliances. My husband and I just invested in a brand new washing machine and dryer. We will have to extend their lifespan by installing a water softener that will prevent damage.