Before investing in, or ruling out the idea of a water softener completely, it is important to look at the differences between hard water and soft water. There are a few fundamental differences between the two, and how they are used in our daily lives.
Hard Water vs. Soft Water, What’s the Difference?
Minerals
Before water that has been softened reaches us, it has gone through the water softener, taking away many of the minerals. The two most common minerals that a water softener will get rid of are magnesium and calcium.
Water first becomes hard after picking up portions of these when it flows along rocks. Hard water that contains these minerals isn’t harmful to consume. There is even research to support that consuming hard water is an effective way to get these essential minerals in your diet.
Adding soap
When washing your hands or taking a shower, or even doing the laundry, soft water brings many more advantages than hard water will provide. Despite the fact that it just feels better, you will get more for your money with soft water.
Soft water is able to bring out the effectiveness of the soap much more than hard water. Rather than needing to add more, the soap you have will lather well, saving you money on the different soaps you need.
There are many people who don’t like to wash their clothes in hot water for fear of shrinking. This can have negative effects when it comes to the cleanliness of your clothing. With soft water, your clothes will get almost as clean in cold water as they would in hot water.
Although there are no health benefits to showering with soft water, it makes a significant different on the health of your shower. Rather than leaving hard water deposits, and mineral buildups in your shower, it will be left cleaner when avoiding hard water.
The appliances
Hard water can be damaging to your plumbing, causing clogs or in some cases completely ruining the pipes altogether. By switching to soft water here, you can increase the life of your pipe, and make it easier to maintain them.
Your water heater is essential; keep it in the best condition to continue the supply of hot water to your home. Hard water can make this appliance less efficient faster than soft water. Even if you do use soft water with it, it is essential to clean it out often to prevent buildup.
The downfall of soft water
Although in most cases the advantages of soft water far outweighs those of hard water, there are a couple of things to consider before pledging to never use hard water again. It is important to remember that hard water contains an outstanding source of calcium and magnesium that are essential to the body. Besides this, it can reduce the solubility of toxic metal ions, meaning that they body will not be able to intake these harmful elements.
Soft water has a higher sodium concentration, which can have negative effects for those on a low sodium diet. It is important to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of soft water before making the switch.
Assess your situation and determine if switching from hard water to soft water would be beneficial to you. In most cases, switching to soft water will be beneficial.
About Author +Cassie Costner writes for www.superiorwaterandair.com on the differences between soft and hard water. She has written on a number of other subjects, including mold cleanup, how to prevent a flood in the basement, and preparing your pipes for winter.
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