The list of problems caused by hard water is a long one, it includes: Clogged Plumbing – Limescale from hard water will build up in your pipes. Think of it like an artery that is slowly being clogged up. It restricts water flow until it becomes fully clogged.
Hard water contains high traces of calcium and magnesium ions, which can create limescale and have a damaging effect to the internal heating and plumbing systems of your home, as well as limiting the effectiveness of soaps and cleaning products.
Most people (and water heaters) don't “need” a water softener. It's certainly not mandatory to have one in your home. Your water heater will work without one. Some people believe that water heaters only require a water softener if the water system works off a private well with extremely hard water.
If you see hard water spots on your shower door or dishes, or your water is not soapy, then you need to add water softener salt. The same consequences to having hard water apply — less efficient cleaning, heater, and appliances, mineral deposits left in pipes and appliances, and exposure to high levels of calcium.
Drinking water in hard water areas is not a serious health risk. However, the limescale and other mineral deposits associated with hard water can cause a range of domestic issues such as discoloured surfaces, stained dishes, and even broken appliances.
Soften your kitchen water by boiling: Boiling will make the salts in water sink to the bottom of the boiler. You can then scoop out this water or pour the water in another pot leaving the deposits in the end. Install an ion-exchange filter to your kitchen faucet or use a water pitcher filter.
The Reason Hard Water Damages Hair
It can also make hair dull, frizzy, stiff, and more prone to tangles. These effects are heightened when hair is washed with hard water over a long period of time. The buildup may be more difficult to penetrate with serums, masks, or other treatments.
Put your water softener in bypass when you are watering your lawn or garden. There are times when you may not require soft water or you may want to conserve water and salt. Maybe you are planning to use a large amount of water and it doesn't have to be softened.
A water softener that is too small will frequently run out of soft water, reduce water pressure, require more service, and have a reduced service life.
Will it be ok? Many folks would tell you that letting your water softener run out of salt is okay and that you should add salt and not worry. But letting your water softener run out of salt will cause long-term damage to your water fixtures and might even make your salt tank overflow!
Most water companies don't soften the water in their water supply. It's not because they can't, it's because it's not cost effective. Studies have shown that it's more economical to soften water at the point of use, which is what a water softener does.
Even after water treatment, it can enter your water supply naturally or through aging infrastructure. Hard water can corrode your plumbing, and it may even cause health risks. Drinking hard water has been associated with digestive problems, kidney stones, and nervous system issues.
Softened water can save some 50% of washing powder and toilet soap consumption and similarly reduce the amount of shampoos, conditioners and cleaning products used. Softened water can help certain dry skin conditions such as eczema.
It is unlikely that a physician would discourage anyone from drinking softened water. Because water softeners are designed to address the problem of hard water and do not remove other water contaminants such as organic matter, many of our water softener customers also use a drinking water system.
This type of water can affect how long your metal pipes will last and how fast the pipes will corrode. Water that is soft will not create mineral build up within the pipes but it can create pinhole leaks as soft water is lacking in minerals making it aggressive towards unlined metal (copper) pipes.
When you install a water softening system, it will stop your pipes from clogging any further due to hard water residue scale. The limescale will gradually begin clearing out as softer water consistently runs through your pipes.
Soft water kills water heaters!
Hard water is water that contains high amounts of Calcium and Magnesium. To “soften” the water hard particles are replaced with salt (sodium and potassium). Soft water isn't corrosive by itself. Hard water isn't corrosive by itself.
But watering plants exclusively with soft water isn't recommended. Most water softeners use sodium chloride, which can cause a gradual build up of sodium in garden soil. This can cause plant growth problems. Instead of soft water, use hard water or reverse osmosis for watering plants.
Hard water can weaken your hair (5). It may restrict blood flow to your follicles. This can interfere with the growth of new hair strands. Hard water does not cause permanent hair loss and this can be rectified by changing your water system or using products that reverse its effects.
While water softeners target issues like spots on dishes and buildup on appliances, water filters aim to supply better-tasting, cleaner water by removing a wider array of contaminants. These can include: Metals such as arsenic, lead, copper, iron, cadmium and hexavalent chromium.