You Want Soft Water

As I stated in an earlier blog post "Do I have hard water?", more than 85 percent of the US has hard water. Soft water comes with the use a water softener so consumers can enjoy the benefits but there is some confusion about whether softened water is safe to drink.

Some people are concerned that drinking softened water will increase the level of sodium in their diet. Softening your water will not result in salty-tasting water. Sodium bicarbonate, which is different from sodium chloride (table salt), is formed through the water softening process.

The majority of sodium in our diet, in fact more than 90 percent, comes from processed foods and table salt. The recommended daily allowance for sodium consumption is 2,400 mg. Drinking two quarts of softened water would only equal about 10 percent of sodium in your diet. If you are concerned about sodium in their diet you should consult your physician about effective means of reducing overall sodium consumption.

An Easy Solution to change Hard water to Soft Water

There's a simple, safe solution to hard water. Installing a water softener is quick, easy and greatly reduces the natural hard minerals found in water, making it easier to get clothes clean, leaving skin less dry and irritated, and making showering more pleasant. They can be rented or purchased depending on your needs.

During the water softening process, water softening salt charges thousands of tiny resin beads inside the water softener with sodium ions. As hard water moves over the resin beads, the calcium and magnesium minerals are attracted to the beads and replaced with

sodium ions, creating soft water. This process is called ion exchanging. Over time, the resin beads will become full of minerals and need to be recharged or changed. The time between regeneration varies depending on the water usage of each home as well as the source water's hardness.

Soft Water Can Save You Hard Cash

The term "hard water" was originally coined to refer to water that was difficult or hard to work with. Soft water requires much less soap, shampoo or detergent than hard water, so your soap products stretch further. The effects of using softer water are felt most often in daily household activities such as cleaning. The lack of minerals present in softer water increase soap's lathering and cleaning capabilities.

In a New Mexico State University's Water Heater-Energy Savings Study, the lifespan of water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers can be reduced by as much as 30 percent when hard water is used in the home. Also, when heated, the minerals in the water can precipitate out and form scales in the bottom of the water heater. This build up results in increased water heating costs.

Another factor to look at is the costs associated with repairing those same appliances. Due to the high cost of repairs, replacement often is the best and sometimes the only option once hard water has wreaked havoc on an appliance.

The first step in solving hard water problems is determining the hardness of your water.

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