Is Soft Water Better For Your Home’s Plumbing?

Many people desire to own a home over continuing to rent, as homes are valuable assets, and they are more customizable to suit a family’s needs. Unfortunately, being a homeowner also means you are responsible for any repairs and maintenance that may be needed, or any disasters that may arise. As a result, preventative measures are key to reducing home repair costs and maintaining your home’s value in the long run. One such preventable measure is installing or replacing a water softener to reduce the wear and tear that hard water can cause to your entire home’s plumbing system. Today we will discuss the ins and outs of soft water, and how you can tackle hard water problems in your home. 

What is Hard Water?

Hard water is a term that is used to describe water that contains a high concentration of minerals. The most common minerals in hard water are calcium and magnesium, and they often come from mineral-rich rocks in a groundwater supply. Hard water can cause the following:

• The presence of soap scum in bathtubs or water-using appliances
• Increasingly dry skin and hair, especially in the winter
• Foggy glassware from the dishwasher
• Calcium buildup in coffee pots, faucets, showerheads, and more

All of these issues are annoying at best, but some can end up being incredibly costly. If your home’s plumbing system experiences mineral buildup, you may need some or all of your pipes replaced, which could be a pricey endeavor. The same is true about dishwashers or washing machines that see excessive buildup; they too may need repairs or replacements every few years. 

What is Soft Water?

Soft water, in contrast, is water that does not contain high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, or other minerals. Although there may be some mineral deposits within a water supply that is considered soft water, the concentrations of these minerals are much lower than a hard water supply. As a result, the above issues that hard water can cause in a home become less of a problem or go away entirely when a home’s water is properly softened. 

Is Soft Water Better for My Home’s Plumbing?

In short, yes! Soft water takes much less of a toll on plumbing systems and other household appliances than mineral-heavy hard water. As mentioned earlier, hard water can cause mineral deposits to build up, reducing the efficiency of your water system. Here is what pipes with limescale buildup can look like over time if left unchecked. 

When this occurs, it can not only disrupt water pressure as water flows through your home’s fixtures, but it can also make your pipes more susceptible to leaks. When water is forced to go through pipes of a smaller diameter thanks to mineral buildup, it can increase the pressure at which it flows. Higher water pressure also increases the likelihood that your pipes will crack or burst, leading to water damage or flooding. 

How Do Water Softeners Work?

Water softeners exchange ions in your water. When hard water enters a water softener, the calcium, magnesium, or other hard minerals are replaced by sodium and/or potassium ions. This softened water is then used all around your home. Sodium and potassium are much less abrasive than other minerals, and they do not cause soap scum or corrosion to develop like those in hard water do. 

What are Other Benefits to Having Soft Water?

Household Items are Easier to Clean

Soap scum and bathtub grime occur in the presence of hard water due to a chemical reaction between soap and the calcium in hard water. This chemical reaction also makes dish and laundry detergent less effective, leading you to use more and more of it over time. Switching to soft water can make your laundry appear cleaner and brighter, and prevent film from forming on dishes in the dishwasher. 

Skin and Hair are Less Dry

As mentioned earlier, hard water can dry out our skin and hair, leading us to reach for expensive body and hair care products or formulate complicated beauty routines to counteract these effects. Fortunately, soft water can make our skin and hair much happier by helping them retain moisture and preventing them from drying out. After just a few days of having soft water, you may find you can ditch some of those pricey body or hair care products. 

Appliances Last Longer

Hard water not only wreaks havoc on pipes, but it can also damage rubber parts on dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and more. The most common components of household appliances that are made of rubber are stoppers and washers, which prevent leaks. When these are degraded by a high mineral content in hard water, it can cause your appliances to leak and damage other parts of your home. These appliances may also need repairs or replacements much more often when hard water is present.