What Is Hard Water?
If a home’s water supply has hard water, it means it has a high concentration of dissolved minerals, typically calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not harmful to people, but it can negatively impact plumbing fixtures and appliances and cause negative effects on a household. However, plumbers can treat these issues by installing a water softener. This post will discuss water softeners, their benefits, and signs of hard water.
How Does a Water Softener Work?
When a house has hard water, plumbers recommend installing a whole-house water softener. These systems treat hard water, often through an ion exchange process that removes or exchanges hard water minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, with sodium ions.
Water softeners can soften water by following this process:
- Water flows inside the resin tank, filled with tiny resin beads.
- The negatively charged resin beads attract and hold onto the positively charged ions from the hard water.
- As the hard water flows through the water-softener resin bed, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are exchanged for sodium ions on the resin beads.
- Throughout the process, water from the brine tank is drawn into the resin tank to create a brine solution.
- Next, a backwash cycle occurs. This can happen when water flow through the resin bed is reversed, rinsing away the accumulated hardness of minerals.
Signs of Hard Water
To treat hard water before it impacts their plumbing system, homeowners must identify the signs of hard water in their homes. Some symptoms of hard water include:
- Soap scum on dishes, in the shower, bathtub, or on the bathroom surfaces
- Scale deposits and buildups on plumbing fixtures that often look like chalky, white residue
- Clogged showerheads due to mineral deposits accumulating on the showerhead, impacting the water flow
- Less efficient appliances, like water heaters
- Dry, itchy skin and brittle hair or a film left on skin and hair
- Plumbing and water-using appliances don’t last as long
- Lower water pressure from scale buildup in piping
If households experience these symptoms, they should contact a plumber to schedule a water softener installation.
Benefits of Whole Home Water Softeners
Installing a water softener can have many benefits for households. Some of the advantages homeowners can experience are:
- Prevent the development of scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and other appliances, extending their lifespan and improving their efficiency, which reduces operating costs
- Smooth and more hydrated skin and softer hair
- Prevent hard water spots on dishes and glasses
- Easy cleaning by preventing scale buildup on fixtures
- Improved water pressure by preventing any buildups in pipes and fixtures
Homeowners should contact a professional to install a water softener system to experience these advantages and more by removing water hardness from their homes.
About Plumb Tite Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drains
Plumb Tite Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drains is a family-owned and operated company serving Cincinnati and the surrounding areas. They offer flat-rate prices, on-time arrival, and the latest technology. Call them today for water softener repair or installation in Cincinnati, OH.