Using a Water Softener

Depending on the type of water flows into your home, you may need to use a water softener to ensure that your family's drinking and washing water is free of excess minerals and elements. A water softener is a machine that is hooked into the incoming water supply and removes these elements and minerals, making your water a easier to use and less harmful to your pipes and appliances.

Hard water has high amounts of magnesium, calcium and (sometimes) iron. Over time, hard water causes stains on sinks, faucets and bathtubs. Magnesium and calcium deposits clog pipes and damage appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. Furthermore, using hard water for bathing can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy. Washing your hair with hard water leaves it feeling brittle and causes damage. Using a water softener can alleviate these problems and ensure that your expensive appliances are avoiding a buildup of scale and soap scum.

Water softeners remove the damaging elements from your water supply, thereby making your water less damaging and less metallic tasting. Because a water softener removes the minerals, a water softening machine needs to be routinely maintained. The calcium, magnesium and iron will build up in the water softening machine. It is much better to have the elements contained in the water softener than flowing through your pipes and through faucets.
Most home water softening systems use a filter and a brine tank. The brine is a salt mixture that works to remove the minerals from the water. As water moves through the water softening system, the magnesium and calcium ions swap places with the sodium ions. The ions in the calcium and magnesium stay behind, and the water moves through your pipes with out them. Regular maintenance includes routinely flushing the tank and adding more brine to ensure the system continues to work efficiently, removing as many of the minerals and elements as possible.

There are different water softening systems on the available, each varying in price. Costs can range from $400 up to $1,500, plus the extra $5 - $10 for salt bags. But using a water softening system in a household with a hard water problem will save you a lot of money in the long run on replacing damaged pipes and appliances.

You can test your home's water supply for hardness by using a kit - available at pool suppliers and H2o treatment centers - to see the amount of minerals present in your water. Water hardness is measured by the amount of minerals present in the water by grains per gallon (GPG), or parts per million (PPM). Water with up to 1 GPG is soft, 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered average, and water with 3.5 to 7 GPG is classified as hard water.