What are the Benefits of a Water Softener?

What are the Benefits of a Water Softener?

You have probably heard people talk about having water softeners in their homes, but what are the benefits of a water softener and simply put, should you have a water softener in your home? Already know the amazing benefits of soft water? Harpersplumbing offers premium water softeners in Calgary to make your life easier and your water better!

Hard water is measured in grains per gallon (gpg), anything over 3 gpg. In the Calgary area it is not uncommon to find readings of 14+ gpg of hardness but this still seems like an abstract concept.

So what is hardness? What does hard water mean? And why would you want to soften it? Hard water is created when underground water tables percolate through stone and soil, collecting mineral deposits along the way, with small deposits of dissolved calcium and magnesium.

Hard water will appear in many forms. It can leave white spots on your glassware and even your clothing. It can leave crusty mineral deposits on showerheads and faucets. It will cause discolouration in your sinks, tubs, basins and appliances. Scale build-up due to hard water is a common contributor to the breakdown of your boiler. If you have a tankless water heating system we highly recommend installing a water softener to reduce the amount of sediment entering your boiler system.  A study on the scale in tankless water heaters found that the efficiency of gas water heaters decreased by 8 percent over 1.6 years due to hard water. Furthermore, a typical boiler is meant to last anywhere from 10-15 years, but with hard water that time frame could be reduced to as little as 5 years. Over time these hard water mineral deposits will grow inside of the water pipes which leads to lower water pressure, decreased efficiency of your hot water tank, and then blockages. Blocked pipes will eventually crack, break, and leak.

But what if you have a traditional tank hot water heater? The hard water scale still builds up in traditional tanks and can act as a layer of insulation that prohibits the transfer of heat into the water, sometimes by as much as 50%!

Hard water not only deteriorates your plumbing system and appliances but it can irritate your skin and scalp. If you have conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, or even just dry skin, hard water will likely increase the aggravation. But before we jump into water softeners, we wanted to cover 3 common myths that we often hear about:

3 Common Water Softener Myths

  1. That softened water tastes salty

    • With a properly functioning soft water system you wont taste the salt.

  2. Water Softeners Remove Calcium and Magnesium which are essential minerals for health

    • While Calcium and Magnesium are removed, they are not primarily absorbed into the body by water, they are primarily taken in through food.

  3. City Water Doesn’t Need Softening as it is already treated

    • While the water is treated to make it safe to drink, it still contains minerals that while safe to drink are hard on your plumbing systems, fixtures and appliances.

A water softener should not be viewed as just another household expense but more of an investment that will save you money in the long term. With a standard home with 10 gpg and 4 people these mineral deposits are equivalent to 600 lbs a year of rock moving through your plumbing system. While a lot of these deposits simply pass through, the trace parts also build up in the form of sediment on glass, fixtures etc.

Once your water softener is installed you may wonder what the magic box that you are refilling with salt does. In simple terms water softener has water that comes into it with calcium and magnesium and the small particles or ions are exchanged for the sodium in the salt. Ferrous and Manganese can also be removed through a water softener if present. The water softener set up just has to be set for the additional mineral removal in the total calculation of grains to be softened for the home.

A softener will improve the longevity of the pipes in your water system as well as your hot water heater and appliances. A softener allows you to use less soap and detergent for the same cleaning effect thereby saving you money and wear and tear. It will also add value to your home should you choose to sell. A buyer will have peace of mind knowing that there hasn’t been years of mineral build-up in the pipes and they won’t have costly repairs or water leaks from constant mineral collection. But what if you have an older home that has never had a water softener installed? Should you still consider getting one? Is it worth it or is it too late? Believe it or not, having a soft water in your home will eventually dissolve away scale, slowly reversing the effects of the hard water.

Don’t hesitate to contact Calgary plumbing contractors to inspect your water system and get recommendations on the best water softener for your needs. When on site your plumber can test your water and tell you the level of hardness on site. We have a water softener in our home and have never looked back!

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Morgan Harper BUSINESS SOLUTIONS MANAGER
Morgan is the Business Solutions Manager for Harper’s Plumbing. With a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from the University of Calgary, she combines her business expertise with hands-on industry knowledge. As the wife of a plumber, Morgan has gained invaluable insights into plumbing and home maintenance, making her a trusted voice for practical advice and solutions.
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