Many Hamilton homeowners never stop to think about whether they have hard water and could potentially benefit from having a water softener installed in their home. Many people don’t know they have hard water until they purchase a water softener and see the difference. Before you make this investment in your Hamilton home, here’s what you need to know.
How do you know if you need a water softener?
Hard water definitely leaves signs around the house if you know what to look for. Before you purchase a water softener for your home, take a look for any of these signs that you might need one.
- Streaky or spotty dishes
- The laundry feels stiff after washing it
- Soap scum on the bathtub or shower walls after being used
- Limescale build-up around the faucets or showerheads in your home
- Dry hair
- Irritated skin, especially after showering
Hard water can cost you more money in the long run as it means you have to replace fixtures more often because hard water wears them down.
Thankfully, a water softener can help protect your fixtures from wearing down prematurely and give you softer hair and skin.
How does a water softener work?
Water softeners use chemistry to soften the water. Hard water has a lot of calcium and magnesium in it, which are positively charged molecules. The water softening unit will have negatively charged resin beads so that the positively charged molecules will be attracted to. Through this attraction, these minerals will be removed from the water as it pumps through the system.
Benefits of a water softener
Soft water systems remove the high amounts of calcium and magnesium from the water so that the water coming out of the faucets in your home is gentler on your clothes, skin and hair.
You may experience spot-free dishes, brighter and softer laundry, appliances that last longer, clearer water and less time spent on cleaning to remove the limescale or spots that build up on faucets and fixtures.
How long does a water softener last?
With proper maintenance, a water softening unit can last 10 or 15 years in your Hamilton home. The factors that affect the life span of your unit will be how it’s used, how well it’s taken care of, and the water quality it’s pumping through to your home. If your home has extremely hard water (with really high amounts of calcium and magnesium), you may find that your unit has to be replaced earlier than expected.
Most companies that offer water softeners will also offer maintenance packages – especially if you are renting the unit like you would with a hot water tank. This means if you have issues with the unit, they will come and fix it for you and make sure it’s working correctly.
Contact Wentworth Plumbing today
If you are interested in learning more and perhaps getting a water softener for your home, our Hamilton plumbers can help. Call us today to speak with one of our experienced plumbers.