If you’re tired of scrubbing limescale from your faucets and shower heads, it may be time to install a water softener.
Water naturally has a variety of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Whether a water supply is considered “hard” or “soft” depends on how much of these minerals are in your water. Soft water contains lower levels of calcium and/or magnesium than hard water. But lets face it: in Alberta we have very hard water. There is no requirement to soften your water; the decision to soften water is a personal choice that can affect your home and the environment. If your water’s hardness is greater than 7 grains per gallon or 120 mg/L, then you might need a water softener to ensure your appliances run well and to improve the taste, smell, or look of your water.
Home water softeners, also called ion exchange units, are appliances that remove calcium, magnesium, and other minerals from drinking water. Traditionally water softeners operate by using resin beads inside the softener to trap the calcium and magnesium and exchange them for sodium or potassium. Now there are also more modern water softeners available that soften water by eliminating the negative effects of hard water with the use of citrus, as opposed to potassium (aka salt). The newer units soften water while retaining the beneficial minerals resulting not only in softer water, but also healthier, better-tasting water.
A Few Advantages of Home Water Softening:
- Lengthens the life of some appliances.
- Reduces or prevents mineral spots on glassware.
- Prevents or reduces soap films and detergent curds in sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines.
- Prevents build-up of minerals (scale) on the inside of fixtures, and hot water heaters.
- Less time spent cleaning soap scum off your shower walls or limescale from your taps.
Can soft water cause stomach problems?
The bottom line is that water-softening systems are safe. Most people can drink hard or soft water with no side effects. Higher sodium levels may be of concern to some, but drinking bottled or filtered water and using soft water only for laundry, dish washing and bathing is a simple fix.
Can pets drink softened water?
In short, yes! Softened water is safe for most pets to drink. Softened water meets the requirement directive on water quality, meaning it is safe for human consumption, which includes pet consumption.
Can bacteria grow in a water softener?
There will be bacteria in your water softener, but it is not harmful bacteria. Bacteria are found everywhere— particularly in substances where there are minerals, such as water. They are completely harmless and, in a lot of cases, help us to function as living things.
Do water softeners add sodium to drinking water?
If your water test tells you that you have 18 grains per gallon hardness, installing a water softener will add about 35 milligrams of sodium to each 8 oz. glass of water you drink. A tablespoon of ketchup has about 140 milligrams of sodium.
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