Water Softener Questions
Hard water creates soap scum build-up as well as lime residue in the home due to its hard mineral ions content. This causes decrease water flow when calcium and magnesium forms on showerheads, faucets and other elements in the home, which you can stop with a water softener.
Reasons to Install a Water Softener
Homeowners who have hard water often notice that their soaps and detergents use more bath products and laundry detergent because the water tends to produce minimal lather. When they install a water softener, they notice a dramatic decrease in their soap usage and laundry detergent usage, saving them money on detergent. It also reduces mineral build-up in appliances, which helps appliances work smoothly.
What is the Cost for Water Softeners?
Installing an automatic water softener in your home can run you within the range of $700 to $1000 depending on your local, size and manufacturer. Even though, this might cost a sizeable amount initially it is a worthy investment over time, considering it saves you money in other ways.
How Does the System Work?
Hard water naturally has calcium and magnesium ions, so the water softener compiles all materials from the water source in the home. When water comes into the plumbing system, it goes through resin beads that have a salt ions covering. The beads gather all the calcium and magnesium together and disburse the salt ions. After a while, the beads reach full capacity and no longer have the capacity to soften hard water, and needs beads regeneration to restore it back to full capacity. Then, the beads require soaking in water with a saturated salt ion followed by a rinse with brine material. The brine removes the calcium and magnesium build-up and adds sodium back into the system.
Does Using a Water Softener Cause Any Health Concerns?
The salt content in the water supply may create a problem for people who have sodium restriction such as people with kidney disease, hypertension, or congestive heart failure. Thus, these people should install a separate line just for drinking and cooking purposes, so they do not receive any added salt.