You’ve probably heard of hard and soft water, but why does water come in two varieties? Isn’t it all just water? What’s the difference between the two, and why does it matter?
Water hardness is mostly determined by how much calcium and magnesium it contains. Hard water has a higher concentration of those, while soft water contains more sodium.
If you have hard water, you’ve probably already noticed. There may still be spots on your dishes even after you do them. You have to rinse your hands for longer because it feels like you still have a weird film on them due to the soap scum that forms when calcium reacts with soap. The water pressure in your home is low because the minerals in the water are being deposited in the pipes, decreasing their diameter.
Hard water may not be a serious threat to your health, but it is quite troublesome. There are definitely benefits to softening your water. Here are just a couple of them.
Your Appliances Will Work Better
Hard water leaves mineral deposits, also called limescale, which will build up in your pipes. Whether it be your sinks, dishwasher, shower, fridge, or any other appliance that needs a water supply, softening your water will lengthen their lifespans. Limescale is also just a pain to clean off of your sinks and dishes.
Your Hair and Skin Will Improve
The soap scum residue that we briefly touched on can clog your pores and cause your hair to stand up. In turn, you might experience skin conditions such as eczema, cystic acne, and very dry skin. You may very well go on to try hundreds of dollars worth of skincare products, only to discover it was the hard water that was causing your issues all along. Your hair will also feel heavy and look dull. A shower filter might just make all the difference!
Your Water and Food Will Just Taste Better
Hard water has a distinct taste. It just tastes like your drinking water with a few coins in it. As you’ll see in numerous compact water softener reviews, soft water not only tastes better by itself, but it also enhances the flavor of your home-cooked meals. We need to drink a lot of water to survive, so why not make it as high-quality as we can?
You Save Money in the Long Run
You will spend money installing a water softener, but it’s true you’ll also save a lot. This goes back to the first and second points. You’ll have to repair your appliances less and less often, especially the thousands you’d spend on plumbing. You’ll also likely not spend as much money on skin and hair care products.
In the end, hard water isn’t a serious threat to your health. But your overall quality of life will improve if you decide to deal with the hard water in your home. You’ll spend a little less money on appliances and products, and your meals will taste a little better! It’s a worthwhile fix and one that you’ll be grateful for doing.
