4 FAQ About Water Softeners

A water softener's primary function is to remove minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, from the water supply in your home. These minerals make your water hard, which causes a whole host of problems.

If you would like to know more about this home appliance, here are the answers to four frequently asked questions about water softeners.

How Do Homeowners Know If They Need a Water Softener?

If your water is hard, here are some signs that you may run across in your home:

Your water flows slowly from the faucets due to a buildup of mineral deposits in the pipes.
There is a crusty buildup of limescale on your plumbing fixtures, sinks, and tiles.
Your tap water has an odd taste.
Your clothes are hard to clean, and they contain a soapy residue after washing them.

You might also have hard water if most everyone in your household has dry, itchy skin or their hair looks dull. Dry itchy skin can result from bathing in hard water, and dull hair can happen because hard water makes it more difficult to rinse out the shampoo and conditioner.

What Benefits Do Water Softeners Provide?

The most obvious benefit of installing a water softener is that it will get rid of hard water. By resolving the hard water cleaning your clothes, dishes, and bathing will be easier with less soap needed. Soft water won't cause minerals to buildup in your pipes nor will it form limescale, as a result your water using appliance will last longer and work more efficiently.

Here are some more benefits that water softeners provide:

Your toilets, sinks, and tubs will not have a rusty appearance.
Your dishes and silverware won't have any more water spots.
You will use less soap and detergents.
Your appliances, such as washing machines and water heaters, will last longer.

Because of the the benefits listed above you will also see a savings due to less detergents and soaps needed and appliances operating more efficiently.

What Are the Different Types of Water Softeners?

If you have determined your water is hard and want to do something about it, you will need to decide what kind of water softener best suits your needs. Here are different types from which to choose:

Salt free . Uses a filter, which means this type does not require the use of salt, minerals, or chemicals
Ion exchange . Removes ions that cause hard water and exchanges them with sodium and potassium ions
Magnetic . Uses magnets in the water pipes to change the water from hard to soft
Dual tank . Uses two mineral tanks, one of which cleans the water and the other provides an uninterrupted supply of soft water

All of these water softeners have their pros and cons. Many homeowners choose salt-free water softeners, however they should not be used with really hard water. Additionally, if you choose an ion exchange water softener, your drinking will contain high sodium levels. Homeowners who want to avoid using salt in their water softener might want to use a magnetic one.

Lastly, some homeowners have both a water softener and a reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis relies on pressure to remove a large percentage of impurities from the water.

How Much Does Water Softener Installation Cost?

The national average to install a water softener is said to be around $2,500. There are many determining factors to the cost such as the size of the water softener needed, which is calculated by the number of people living in the house along with the hardness of the water. Depending on the home there may be some piping alterations required to keep your outside faucets and drinking water separated from the softener as these items are not normally softened.

If you live in the greater Lincoln area and would like to know more about water softeners , contact Bryant Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical & Plumbing. Whether you're replacing your existing water softener, or need a new one, we provide free estimates for water softener installation.