Do I Need a Water Softener?

Water is a beautiful feature of the Michigan landscape. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of your faucet may not be as pristine. Most of the state has hard or very hard water. But what is hard water? If you have hard water, do you need a water softener?

Soft vs. Hard Water

Water may look clear and empty, but it actually contains minerals. If you have hard water, that means your water contains higher levels of magnesium and calcium. If you have soft water, then your water contains higher levels of sodium.

You can’t tell whether your water is hard or soft just by looking at it. However, there are a few places you can look to give you an idea of what kind of water your home may have:

• Check your dishes: When you run your dishwasher, do your dishes come out sparkling, or are they covered in spots? If you have hard water, then calcium carbonate may form on your dishes, resulting in foggy spots. If you have soft water, your dishes should be spotless.
• Wash your hands: Pay attention the next time you wash your hands. Do they feel clean, or do you feel like there’s a soapy film on your hands even after you’ve rinsed? The calcium in your hard water reacts to soap to create soap scum, requiring more time to rinse to feel truly clean.
• Pay attention to water pressure: Have you been blaming your terrible water pressure on an old showerhead? Bad news — if you have hard water, upgrading your showerhead may not help much. Hard water creates mineral deposits in your pipes, negatively affecting your water pressure.

Hard Water Problems

Hard water is completely safe to drink, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for your home. In fact, hard water can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Shorter lifespans for your hot water heater and other appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, etc.)
• Corroded pipes
• Slow draining/flushing

What Does a Water Softener Do?

If you have hard water, you may want to consider investing in a water softener. Water softeners filter hard water through a mineral tank containing negatively charged beads, usually made of plastic or resin. These beads attract positively-charged magnesium and calcium, filtering them out of the water.

Every once in a while, your water softener will flush its system with water and salt (brine) to remove the magnesium and calcium it has collected over time. For maintenance purposes, simply refill your brine tank with water softener salt. It’s a good habit to check your brine tank at least once a month.

Water Softener Solutions

By investing in a water softener, you’re investing in the life of your plumbing system. Soft water is easier on your everyday appliances than hard water, allowing them to last longer. The lack of mineral deposits in your pipes will keep your water flowing at the right pressure, protecting your pipes from corrosion and leaks.

Invest in a Water Softener

Our Greenville, MI, water softener plumbers can help you find the right water softener for your home. If you’re interested in water softener installation or repair, call Parker-Arntz Plumbing & Heating, Inc., at (888) 641-3907, or contact us online for a free estimate.